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THE 


IDEAL  MAN; 


CONVERSATION  BETWEEN  'nVO  FRIENDS, 


UPON 

THE  BEAUTIFUL,  THE  GOOD,  AND  THE  TRUE, 


AS  MANIFESTED  IN  ACTUAL  LIFE. 


B T 

A PHILOKALIST. 

W>  c U li' ^ F£-(‘  X.  ^ 


BOSTON: 


PUBLISHED  BY  E.  P.  PEABODY, 
No,  109  Washington  Street, 

1842. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1841, 
Bf  J.  P.  Wierzbicki, 

In  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED  BY  WM.  WHITE  AND  H.  P.  LEWIS, 
Spring  Lane,  corner  Devonshire-st. 


' 70 


PREFACE. 


Reader,  have  you  ever  been  delighted  with 
the  contemplation  of  a landscape,  and  felt  your 
soul  connected  by  a mysterious  link  with  na- 
ture around  you?  Have  the  sympathies  of 
your  heart  ever  been  so  entwined  with  those 
of  a hero,  as  to  feel  that  his  noble  sentiments 
and  deeds  were  yours  also?  Have  you  felt 
your  soul  expand  on  your  discovery  of  some 
truth  ? If  you  have  experienced  all  this,  and 
more,  I need  not  plead  before  you  the  claims 
of  the  beautiful,  the  goodj  and  the  true,  which 
I have  endeavored  here  to  twine  into  one  thread 
of  life  in  the  ideal  man. 

If  you  should  say  that  my  attempt  is  a failure,  I 
will  say,  yea ; for  who  can  depict  with  sufficient 
vividness,  the  glowing  colors  of  the  beautiful, 
the  good,  and  the  true?  What  eloquence, 
what  a pencil  is  requisite  for  the  task ! Al- 
though the  heart  may  feel,  the  tongue  fails  in 
expressing  its  emotions.  But  failure  as  it  may 
be,  I trust  it  is  not  a misrepresentation. 

I leave  to  the  intelligence  of  the  reader,  to 
bring  all  the  parts  together,  so  as  to  make  out 


4 


PREFACE. 


the  outline  of  the  ideal  man.  The  outline,  as 
it  exists  in  my  mind,  I believe,  is  complete  in 
form,  however  deficient  it  may  be  in  the  finish 
of  parts ; and  such  I have  here  endeavored  to 
represent  it.  The  same  spirit  flows  through 
the  whole  character;  the  tissue  is  woven  of 
the  same  thread. 

There  may  be  found  here  some  ideas,  which, 
on  account  of  their  brevity,  will  appear  to  have 
been  thrown  in  arbitrarily.  But  the  canvas 
which  I have  chosen,  would  not  allow  of  a far- 
ther extension ; consequently,  I have  suggested 
the  most  prominent  ideas  only,  omitting  those 
by  which  they  might  have  been  supported. 
And  if  this  can  be  perceived,  so  much  the  less 
necessary  Avould  they  have  been  here.  I be- 
lieve 1 have  stated  nothing,  Avhich,  at  least  in 
my  opinion,  I could  not  sustain  by  argument. 

With  this  hasty  introduction  of  the  reader 
into  the  company  of  my  tAvo  friends,  I A\dth- 
draAv,  that  he  may  make  their  acquaintance  at 
leisure.  F.  P.  W. 

Providence^  R.  Nov.  1841. 


THE  IHEAL  MAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Is  not  this  earth  of  ours  fair,  beautiful?  exclaimed 
the  enraptured  Rudolph  to  his  friend  Conrad,  while 
they  were  gazing  at  the  scenery  below.  Is  it  not 
charming?  Behold  nature  performing  her  concert 
within  the  sight  of  man ! The  sun,  descending 
below  the  horizon,  with  his  parting  rays,  kisses  the 
serene  moon  and  trembling  stars ; the  clouds,  crowd- 
ing around  his  chariot,  glow  with  gladdening  warmth; 
the  winds  suspend  their  breath  to  watch  his  de- 
parture ; the  trees  wave  no  longer ; even  the  face  of 
the  earth  looks  solemnly  calm;  and  from  yonder 
mountains,  night,  stretching  her  wings,  seems  to  spy 
out  the  luminary’s  course.  What  a sublime  har- 
mony ! But  you,  my  friend,  plunged  in  your  rev- 
eries, seem  to  be  unconscious  of  all  this. 

Conrad.  Not  so,  my  friend ; even  your  glowing 
words  would  be  inadequate  to  express  my  feelings, 
if  I could  give  them  utterance.  Your  heart,  filled 
with  this  sublime  harmony  of  nature,  would  leap  for 


10 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


delight.  You  perceive  no  discord  in  it,  for  your 
eye  sees  but  the  beautiful,  and  your  ear  hears  but 
the  harmonious.  Happy  man ! pleasures  only  are 
for  you.  Well  may  you  be  reconciled  to  your  in- 
completeness as  a man,  when  it  is  the  result  of  a 
want  of  perception  of  the  disagreeable.  But,  for  all 
that,  you  are  an  incomplete  man,  since  you  see  but 
one  side  of  the  picture. 

Rud.  But  may  I not  accuse  you  of  the  contrary 
defect? 

Con.  That,  you  cannot  seriously  do;  for  you 
know  me  too  well.  My  friendship  for  you  alone,  if 
there  be  nothing  else,  will  clear  me  of  such  a charge. 
My  heart  is,  at  this  moment,  in  unison  with  nature 
as  much  as  your  own ; my  emotions  are  expressed 
by  the  sigh  that  escapes  this  oppressed  bosom,  while 
yours  are  manifested  by  your  ejaculation.  I can 
exclaim  with  you,  what  a fair  earth  this  is ! But  I 
will  say  more : it  is  a pity  it  should  be  the  den  of 
misery  ! Yes,  this  beautiful  earth,  on  her  verdant 
lap,  nurtures  harpies  who,  with  their  fiendish  hissing, 
drown  nature’s  melody.  Man,  amidst  this  concert, 
stands  alone  like  a willful  boy  and  blows  his  dis- 
cordant reed ; the  whole  creation  chimes  in,  man 
alone  excepted.  The  universe,  bound  with  the  chain 
of  love,  joyously  moves  to  the  strain  of  the  eternal 
Artist ; but  man,  giddy  with  his  freedom,  breaks 
loose  the  link  embracing  him,  and  furiously  whirls 
round,  to  the  confused  accompaniment  of  his  omi 
capricious  will. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


11 


JRud.  Are  you  justified  in  bringing  such  an 
accusation  against  him  ? He  may,  in  being  such  as 
he  is,  but  obey  the  decrees  of  the  Creator. 

Con.  Is  he  not  conscious  of  what  he  does  ? He 
perceives  the  dissonance  he  makes  in  the  universal 
harmony  of  creation ; he  feels  in  himself  the  capacity 
of  joining  in  it,  or  disturbing  it ; and  he  knows  what 
are  the  probable  consequences  of  either  course. 
Had  not  the  Almighty  left  him  free  to  choose,  he 
could  not  disobey  his  decrees;  he  could  not  at  pleas- 
ure keep  out  of,  and  return  to,  this  circle  of  concord ; 
he  would  harmonize  with  the  rest  of  creation. 

Though  we  cannot  comprehend,  fully,  the  motives 
God  had  in  giving  man  freedom,  yet,  in  our  practical 
life,  we  never  question  its  reality.  1 cannot  con- 
ceive a high  intelligence,  without  a certain  degree 
of  freedom  in  action.  If  I should  deny  his  freedom, 
I should  deny  his  intelligence  also.  The  Creator 
has  secured  happiness  to  the  brutes,  by  making  them 
follow  the  same  track  implicitly ; their  intelligence 
being  vastly  inferior  to  that  of  man,  they  could  not 
otherwise  perceive  wherein  their  happiness  would  be 
found.  Could  the  Creator  show  himself  more  solic- 
itous for  their  welfare  than  for  that  of  man?  So 
far  as  man’s  destiny  merges  into  that  of  the  universe, 
he  is  bound ; but  so  far  as  it  is  individual,  he  is  left 
free.  Herein  the  Creator’s  particular  goodness  to- 
wards man  is  manifested;  since  misery  is  less  galling 
to  him  when  he  himself  is  its  cause,  and  happi- 
ness more  extatic,  when  it  is  the  fruit  of  his  own 


12 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


efforts ; thus  in  misery  he  is  made  less  miserable, 
and  in  happiness  more  happy.  To  enjoy  perfect 
happiness,  he  needs  to  put  himself  in  harmony  with  the 
universe ; the  internal  light  he  has  capacitates  him 
for  that  end.  Placed  on  this  shore  of  eternity,  he 
wanders,  busily  engaged  in  heaping  pebbles,  or  in 
gathering,  from  amidst  the  sand,  the  glittering  dust ; 
and  finding  in  this  work  but  weariness  and  tears,  he 
blasphemes  the  Almighty  for  his  hard  lot ! Not  on 
such  conditions  is  his  happiness  to  be  secured.  He 
must  raise  his  head  from  the  ground  and  look  within 
himself;  and  there,  in  the  depth  of  his  own  soul,  he 
will  behold  a light,  resplendent  with  the  brightness 
of  the  Divinity,  who  fixed  it  there  by  his  own  hand, 
to  light  up  man’s  path  to  happiness. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Rud.  I do  not  fully  comprehend  you.  Yet,  I 
am  sufficiently  interested  in  what  you  say,  to  desire 
an  explanation  of  your  views. 

Con.  To  develope  these  ideas,  as  I conceive 
them,  would  tax  your  patience  too  much.  They 
would  grow  upon  my  hands ; I must  draw,  then,  upon 
your  indulgence.  To  be  in  harmony  with  the  uni- 
verse, is  to  follow  this  light,  to  the  rays  of  which, 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


13 


the  inner  eye  of  man  is  made  permeable,  and  which, 
in  the  depth  of  his  soul,  shines  with  the  tri-colored 
brilliancy  of  the  beautiful,  the  good,  and  the  true. 
These  three  ideas,  mysteriously  woven  into  the 
human  soul,  existing  at  the  same  time,  each  distinct 
in  itself,  and  all  in  each,  are  the  light  of  pure  reason 
shining  upon  every  path  man  may  take.  He  who 
walks  in  it,  inferior  but  to  the  Deity,  walks  in  bles- 
sedness, delight,  and  happiness ; full  of  love,  faith, 
and  hope : he  is  in  harmony  with  the  universe. 

Rud.  But  who  is  he,  who  walks  in  the  fullness  of 
this  heavenly  light  ? Is  there,  or  has  there  ever  been 
one,  even  amongst  the  best  or  wisest  of  men,  heathen 
or  Christian  1 I say  nothing  of  the  mass  of  mankind, 
for  they  have  always  groped  in  the  dark  as  they  do 
now,  and,  as  I fear,  they  ever  will  do.  These  ques- 
tions naturally  press  upon  my  mind,  for  I am  con- 
vinced of  the  reality  of  this  light,  and  am  wonder- 
struck  with  its  purity,  unequaled  brilliancy,  and 
beneficence.  In  it  I see  proofs  of  the  divine  nature 
of  man ; and  yet  I behold  the  human  race,  in  spite 
of  what  Christianity  has  done  to  it,  polluted,  wallow- 
ing in  gross  darkness.  Nay,  I even  hear  self-com- 
placency pompously  proclaim  this  age  enlightened ! 
I believe  each  man  receives  this  light  as  his  heirloom, 
but  I cannot  comprehend  the  reason  why  darkness 
still  prevails. 

Con.  Though  we  have  had  wise  and  good  men,  yet 
there  is  not  one  of  them  who  has  sought  exclusively 
the  path  upon  which  this  light  shone.  Some  were 

1* 


14 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


good  only  so  far  as  they  perceived  the  good  within 
the  narrow  limits  of  every  day’s  applicability ; and 
disregarded  the  beautiful,  or  were  incapable  of  ap- 
prehending the  true.  Others  saw  the  beautiful  only 
on  the  surface  of  things,  but  were  indifferent  to  the 
true,  and  negligent  of  the  good.  And  such  there 
were,  also,  who  apprehended  the  true,  and  they  were 
wise;  but  the  beautiful,  and  the  good,  had  no  charms 
for  them.  Never,  as  yet,  ivere  these  three  ideas  at 
the  same  time  developed  and  fostered  in  the  same 
individual ; and  thus  it  happens  that  we  have  no 
man  in  full  stature,  though  we  abound  in  pigmies  of 
various  sizes. 

I need  not  call  up  the  spirits  of  the  distinguished 
dead  in  order  to  furnish  names  to  prove  my  asser- 
tions ; Dr.  Johnson  might  be  one  of  them.  Nor  will 
I designate  any  of  the  living;  you  can  spare  me  this 
trouble.  Man  has  not  yet  learned  to  understand  his 
dignity  and  destiny ; he  has  not  looked  into  himself. 
You  need  not  marvel  that  Christians  cannot  show  a 
full-sized  man  among  themselves ; even  Sir  Philip 
Sidney  and  Fenelon,  though  perhaps  the  highest, 
fall  short.  Could  they  but  understand  Christianity, 
the  very  essence  of  which  is  the  beautiful,  the  good, 
and  the  true!  They  quarrel  about  words,  not  things 
or  deeds ; foment  enmities  amongst  each  other,  as 
they  think,  for  God’s  and  truth’s  sake ; shift  and 
shuffle  just  to  keep  within  the  letter  of  the  law. 
They  feel  the  authority  of  Christianity  over  human 
nature,  but  they  do  not  love  it.  When  you  animad- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


15 


vert  against  them,  they  call  you  an  enemy  to  Chris- 
tianity; so  much  do  they  wish  to  be  considered 
identified  with  it.  But  Christianity  and  Christians 
are  two  different  things ; we  must  not  identify  what 
is  divine  in  man  with  what  is  his  own.  Of  Chris- 
tianity, I speak  always  with  profound  reverence,  but 
I spare  not  its  professors,  whose  sensibility  seems  to 
be  very  exquisite.  Men  dread  satire  when  their 
characters  are  doubtful  in  their  own  eyes.  Man’s 
ignorance  frequently  severs  the  connexion  that  exists 
between  the  beautiful,  the  good,  and  the  true ; and 
of  this  fault,  narrow-minded  religionists  too  often  are 
guilty.  To  him  who  walks  in  this  triple  light,  beauty 
rises  like  a phantom  even  from  beneath  unseemly 
surfaces ; and  he  sees  it  more  keenly,  when  by  the 
vulgar  eye  it  is  scarcely  noticed.  This  flame  can 
be  nourished  but  by  unceasing  efforts  on  man’s  part, 
without  which  it  diminishes ; it  does  not  go  out,  how- 
ever, but  dwindles  into  a mere  spark,  yet  existing 
just  to  accuse  man  before  the  Almighty  of  his  neg- 
ligence. Would  man  but  reflect,  he  would  see  that 
there  is  in  no  condition,  high  or  low,  a thought  or 
an  action,  from  which  he  is  permitted  to  exclude  the 
rays  of  this  light,  without  becoming  a loser.  Its 
degrees  are  infinite,  nevertheless  its  unity  is  never 
broken  : and  upon  howsoever  unimportant  a thought 
or  act  these  fall,  still  they  are  beautiful  in  themselves, 
and  because  they  are  but  a part  of  one  brilliant 
whole — the  triple  manifestation,  made  intelligible  to 
mortals,  of  the  Deity’s  otherwise  incomprehensible 


16 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


attributes.  These  ideas  cannot,  and  need  not  be 
fully  developed  in  all  men ; nature  herself  does  not 
do  it  in  her  own  works : each  of  us  has  a different 
career  to  run  in  this  world,  and  each  will  not  have 
to  think  and  act  the  same.  The  king,  the  peasant, 
and  the  priest,  the  profound  philosopher,  and  the 
simple  rustic,  each  can  be  perfect  in  his  way,  by 
unfolding  that  part  of  these  ideas,  which  falls  within 
his  sphere : and  thus,  being  a well-adjusted  part  of 
the  whole,  each  would  contribute  to  the  complete 
development  of  the  beautiful,  the  good,  and  the  true 
in  the  human  race.  This  is  the  destiny  which  the 
kind  Creator  offers  to  man,  if  only  he  be  willing  to 
accept  it.  To  forward  this  glorious  destiny,  it  is 
the  sacred  duty,  the  honorable  calling  of  each,  to 
put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  each  in  his  place ; 
and  then  the  social  structure  would  rise  in  splendor 
to  he  the  delight  of  even  heavenly  spirits.  Then  we 
shall  have  a man  of  full  stature ; and  that  one  will 
be  he,  to  whose  lot  the  greatest  task  shall  have  fallen  ; 
who  shall  leave  our  great  sires  behind  him,  in  intel- 
lect, sentiment,  and  deed  ; he  will  be  the  man.  Then 
the  human  family  could  be  truly  happy ; then,  and 
not  till  then ; for  then,  man  would  be  in  harmony 
with  the  universe.  This  is  a bright  vision ! It  is 
but  a vision,  I fear.  Yet  I am  loth  to  leave  it  to 
descend  to  this  miry  earth.  A few  men,  full  of  love, 
ardor,  and  perseverance,  for  the  beautiful,  the  good, 
and  the  true,  may  individually  unfold  in  themselves 
these  ideas  to  great  perfection ; but  the  mass  of 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


17 


mankind,  I am  grieved  to  confess,  will  dream  on, 
and  doze  away  their  existence  in  ignoble  sloth. 
Man’s  wilfulness  is  in  the  way  of  his  progress,  his 
happiness.  It  labors  to  extinguish  the  heavenly 
flame  in  his  bosom ; it  not  only  prevents  his  eye 
reaching  beyond  the  physical  horizon,  but  even, 
while  thus  confined,  his  sight  is  dimmed  by  its  shad- 
ows. He  must  learn  first  to  conquer  man  the  animal 
by  man  the  spirit,  before  he  can  have  claims  to  hap- 
piness ; he  must  fondly  love  the  beautiful,  the  good, 
and  the  true. 


CHAPTER  III. 

, Rial.  Why  should  you  damp  these  holy  aspira- 
tions with  doubts  of  the  high  capacities  of  our  nature  ? 
Can  you  not  trust  to  it,  and  to  a kind  Providence  ? 
There  may  be  a way,  a means,  by  which  man  may, 
in  part,  at  least,  attain  this  noble  end. 

Con.  I have  good  grounds  for  both  hope  and 
fear,  and  am  not  able  to  decide  in  which  I should 
indulge  most.  Looking  back  into  past  ages,  as  far 
back  as  human  traditions  reach,  you  frequently  find 
man  below  the  level  of  brutes.  Consider  the  many 
ages  that  have  rolled  by,  and  his  present  imperfect 
condition,  and  you  are  made  to  doubt  his  great 


18 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


capacities ; the  dawning  hope  of  his  progress  is 
obscured  by  the  apprehensions,  which  his  willfulness, 
his  gross  vices,  and  his  ignorance,  call  forth.  The 
high  idea  you  form  of  man’s  powers  of  intellect  and 
feeling,  when  you  look  at  him  as  an  individual,  van- 
ishes when  you  cast  your  eyes  upon  the  masses ; and 
mistrust  in  his  nature  succeeds  to  this  gladdening 
vision  of  hope.  Yet,  man  may  rise  at  least  to  his 
primitive  perfection.  We  cannot  suppose  him,  when 
he  left  the  Creator’s  hands,  to  have  been  so  degrad- 
ed as  human  records  find  him ; for  it  would  be 
impugning  the  Deity’s  wisdom  ; he  must  have  been 
as  perfect,  physically  and  morally,  as  was  consistent 
with  the  Almighty’s  design — a work  worthy  of  his 
hands.  For,  how  could  you  reconcile  God’s  wisdom 
and  goodness,  with  man’s  indestructible  greatness  as 
an  intelligence,  and  his  coexistent  debasement,  from 
which  he  has  scarcely  emerged  ? His  progress,  slow 
as  it  is,  sufficiently  indicates  his  previous  fall,  and 
these  both  assure  us,  of  his  having  once  held  an  ele- 
vated position,  among  the  works  of  the  Creator.  And 
here  Christianity  puts  forth  her  peculiar  claims  to 
the  merit  of  regenerating  the  human  race.  Greek 
and  Roman  culture  did  not  present  any  motive 
beyond  this  earthly  existence  for  man’s  progress. 
It  bore  the  germ  of  destruction  within  itself,  for  it 
was  earthy.  Its  beacon,  being  planted  low,  could 
easily  be  obscured  by  this  world’s  contingencies, 
and  thus  disappear  from  before  the  human  eye. 
But  Christianity,  directing  man’s  eye  up  to  heaven, 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


19 


and  there  securing  him  a heritage,  has  pointed  at 
the  infinite  perfection  he  should  strive  to  attain,  and 
thereby  deserve  everlasting  bliss.  Thus  fixing  man’s 
gaze  on  his  immutable  guiding  star,  the  Deity’s  per- 
fection, he  has  elevated  his  reason  and  feeling,  and 
made  the  possibility  of  his  progress  secure.  He 
must  first,  however,  comprehend  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity, before  he  can  indulge  in  this  pleasing  hope. 
She  opens  to  him  an  interminable  vista  of  progress, 
with  which  his  sight  shall  be  gladdened,  on  the 
condition  he  cherishes  devout  love  for  the  beautiful, 
the  good,  and  the  true.  As  yet,  scarcely  can  he  be 
said  to  have  done  anything  to  foster  this  love ; neith- 
er his  education  when  a child,  nor  his  conduct  when 
grown,  testify  it.  Man’s  ingenuity  could  not  devise 
better  means  to  defeat  the  end  for  which  he  was 
created,  than  those,  which  his  folly  causes  him  to 
adopt  in  seeking  happiness.  His  education  frustrates 
its  own  ends,  on  the  very  outset  of  his  career ; for 
the  child’s  intellect  is  cultivated  at  the  expense  of 
his  afiections.  And  thus,  he  is  only  made  more  fit 
for  evil  than  for  good. 

The  mass  of  men  are  swayed  by  feeling  rather 
than  by  intellect ; the  latter  is  made  subservient  to 
the  former.  It  is  important,  therefore,  that  man 
should  have  right  feelings,  which,  without  assiduous 
cultivation,  cannot  be  matured.  The  intellect  never 
suffers  from  the  high  cultivation  of  the  feelings ; on 
the  contrary,  they  enlarge  it ; but  the  feelings  suffer 
too  frequently  from  neglect.  Man  is  a sentient 


20 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


being  before  he  is  an  intelligent  one ; his  feelings 
manifest  themselves  in  their  strength  long  before 
his  intelligence  matures;  for  nature  designed  that 
the  full  development  of  the  mind  should  succeed  to 
that  of  the  body.  He,  who  strives  to  reverse  this 
order  of  nature,  is  no  wiser  than  he  who  builds  upon 
sand : this  is  the  case  with  the  present  method  of 
education.  Man’s  feelings  should  be  early  attuned 
to  harmony,  with  the  unfolding  mind;  otherwise 
they  will  run  riot  and  defy  its  supremacy. 

Rud.  I have  already  learned  that,  contrary  to 
what  should  be  expected,  neither  the  knowledge  of 
a science  or  art,  nor  extensive  learning,  makes  man 
better  or  happier.  I was  inclined  to  look  for  the 
cause  of  this  in  the  prevailing  method  of  education, 
without,  however,  being  able  to  point  at  a peculiar 
fault  in  it;  but  since  you  have  expressed  to  me  your 
opinion,  I seem  to  perceive  more  clearly  what  ren- 
ders all  efforts  at  the  cultivation  of  man  so  nugatory. 
Please  unfold  to  me  more  of  your  ideas  upon  this 
subject.  I expect  it  will  be  but  the  shadowing  forth 
of  the  three  ideas  in  which  you  have  interested  me 
so  much.  I should  like  to  know  what  means  you 
would  use,  first  to  awaken  them  in  man,  and  then  to 
subdue  him  to  them. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


21 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Con.  From  the  time  man  first  beholds  the  light  of 
day  to  his  last  hour,  he  should  be  under  those  exter- 
nal influences  calculated  to  call  out  his  nobler  feel- 
ings : the  influences  of  nature  and  the  fine  arts. 
They  are  the  mystic  fingers  that  touch  only  harmo- 
nious chords  of  the  human  soul.  Lead  the  child 
into  the  field,  when  fair  spring  attires  the  earth  in 
her  bridal  robe  of  velvet  green,  spangled  with  beau- 
tiful flowers ; when  the  smile  of  gratitude  to  her 
Creator  plays  upon  the  face  of  nature  ; let  him 
then  listen  to  the  chants  of  the  joyous  birds,  the 
rustling  of  the  leaves,  the  murmur  of  the  brook  ; let 
him  listen  in  the  magic  stillness  of  the  grove,  and 
his  soul,  overflowing  with  delight,  will  instinctively 
seek  for  the  mysterious  author  of  this  harmony,  to 
testify  to  him  her  love  and  homage.  Or  let  him 
witness  the  heavens  when  emitting  the  roaring  thun- 
der ; and  while,  in  his  native  simplicity,  he  imagines 
that  his  heavenly  Father  is  angry,  he  falls  upon  his 
knees  in  awe  and  humility.  Here  he  will  receive 
an  impression,  never  to  be  obliterated,  of  his  own 
dependence  and  the  Almighty’s  power;  and  his 
imagination,  entranced  by  the  sublimity  around  him, 
will  open  his  soul  to  this  inexpressible  delight.  Or 
when  listening  to  the  solemn  moaning  of  the  heaving 
sea,  or  to  the  bowlings  of  autumnal  winds  that  rock 
2 


22 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


the  summits  of  stately  trees,  a responding  chord  will 
vibrate  in  his  heart,  teaching  him  the  deep  meaning 
of  nature’s  music ; and  holy  aspirations  will  uncon- 
sciously escape  his  bosom  heavenward.  But,  at 
whatever  time  we  seek  nature’s  company,  she  always 
speaks  to  us  symbolically ; she  never  corrupts  the 
heart,  but  makes  it  better.  The  child  sees  in  her  a 
kind  and  playful  mother,  the  man  finds  her  a wise 
and  loving  admonisher,  and  both,  the  more  they 
commune  with  her,  are  the  more  won  to  her.  When 
we  stand  in  her  presence,  all  that  is  low  and  dis- 
cordant in  us,  is  hushed ; but  the  disinterested,  the 
noble,  the  lofty  feelings,  rise  like  an  incense  to  the 
Creator. 

Thus  gently,  nature  fans  the  sacred  spark  in 
man’s  breast.  But  what  a contrast  to  this  does 
the  man,  reared  on  the  lap  of  artificial  life,  present. 
You  will  in  vain  look  in  him  for  a serene  brow, 
open  countenance,  disinterested,  generous  heart, 
lofty  aims.  Shut  up  within  the  narrow  walls  of  his 
work-shop,  he  delights  only  in  the  whistling  of  the 
spindle,  and  the  sound  of  the  hanuner ; his  eye 
knows  no  beauty  of  color  but  the  hue  of  gold,  his 
ear  knows  no  music  so  sweet  as  the  chink  of  the 
almighty  dollar.  Or  if  he  be  a pampered  child  of 
luxury,  as  his  body  is  puny  and  sickly,  so  you  will 
find  his  soul.  Art  is  only  noble  inasmuch  as  it 
keeps  close  to  nature ; but  when  it  deviates  from 
her,  it  is  then  enervating  to  both  the  mind  and  body ; 
then  it  is  base  and  worthless.  If  nature  once  win 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


23 


the  heart  of  the  child,  the  chain  of  aifection,  that 
binds  him  to  her,  will  often  vibrate  on  the  ear  of  the 
man,  when  he  runs  the  erratic  career  of  the  world, 
to  reclaim  him  to  her  bosom,  where  he  can  find  rest 
and  happiness.  To  this  truth,  Rudolph,  you  your- 
self can  bear  witness,  for  how  often,  when  disgusted 
with  the  sordidness  and  hard-heartedness  of  men  in 
cities,  did  you  fly  to  nature  to  seek  peace  for  your 
sickened  soul ! There,  in  a still  evening,  when 
seated  beneath  your  favorite  tree,  and  watching  the 
declining  sun,  you  gave  yourself  up  to  communion 
with  nature,  what  pleasures  have  you  drunk  in  in  an 
hour ! and  your  soul,  losing  for  the  while  the  con- 
sciousness of  its  frailty,  felt  pure,  as  if  just  descended 
from  the  celestial  abodes.  Thousands  tread  the 
same  ground  with  you,  yet  they  are  strangers  to 
these  feelings,  for  nature  opens  her  fountains  of  de- 
light only  to  her  docile  children.  The  love  of 
nature  in  the  child,  will  hush  the  discordant  accents 
of  low  passions,  and  awaken  kindness,  consideration, 
sympathy,  and  benevolence  to  his  kind,  and  all 
around  him ; these  receiving  the  sanction  of  his 
progressing  intellect,  will  become  the  rule  of  his  life. 
But  of  how  different  an  aspect  is  man’s  conduct  at 
present ! If  you  take  *his  action  to  be  the  right  in- 
terpreter of  his  thought,  you  would  say,  he  considers 
these  elevating  feelings  as  so  many  thieves  of  his 
happiness ; though  he  would  blush  to  assert  this  in 
words.  Where  is  the  parent,  who  prefers  to  see  his 
child  grow  in  goodness  and  in  kind  affections,  rather 


24 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


than  be  skilled  in  human  knowledge?  Does  he  re- 
joice more  when  his  child  manifests  sympathy  for  the 
suffering,  love  for  the  pure  and  beautiful,  than  when 
it  can  count  two  and  two?  Or  is  there  a school, 
where  a child  receives  the  meed  of  approbation  from 
its  teacher,  for  an  act  of  generosity,  rather  than  for 
its  scholarship  ? Sad,  sad  is  the  deficiency,  indeed  ! 
The  very  basis  of  education  is  false.  It  is  more  easy 
to  be  versed  in  knowledge  permitted  to  man,  than  to 
be  good,  high-minded,  refined  in  feeling  and  in  taste. 
The  latter  qualities  are  more  essential  to  our  happi- 
ness than  the  former ; they  are,  however,  not  incon- 
sistent with  each  other ; and  yet,  greater  pains  are 
taken  to  store  the  child’s  mind  with  knowledge,  than 
to  fill  its  heart  with  noble  sentiments ; just  as  if  those 
could  grow  to  great  perfection  without  any  culture. 
The  human  race,  comparatively  speaking,  has  al- 
ready more  knowledge  than  elevated  feelings ; we 
have  more  wise,  or  I should  rather  say,  knowing, 
than  high-minded  men.  Knowledge,  accompanied 
by  nobleness  of  feeling,  allies  us  to  heavenly  spirits ; 
without  it,  to  the  evil  ones.  He  who  is  capable  of 
disinterested  devotion  to  his  fellow-man,  deserves 
better  of  society,  than  he  who  can  solve  a problem, 
or  invent  a machine ; he  justly  merits  the  civic 
crown,  that  the  high-minded  Romans  were,  on  some 
occasions,  wont  to  bestow.  He  who  completely 
subdues  his  evil  propensities,  may  be  said  to  perform 
a Herculean  labor,  since  the  summit  of  perfection 
is  steep  and  high.  To  the  influence  that  the  siglit 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


25 


of  nature  will  exert  upon  the  child,  we  must  add  a 
good  example  in  our  own  conduct.  Avoid  by  all 
means  calling  out  from  its  breast  the  low  passions 
of  the  human  heart ; breathe  to  it  but  kind  words, 
even  when  you  see  the  necessity  of  reproof;  show 
that  you  are  not  influenced  by  anger,  but  by  love. 
Acquaint  the  child  in  a manner  fitting  its  capacities, 
with  the  eminent  virtues  of  those  men  who  have 
been  the  ornament  of  the  human  race.  Never  omit 
an  opportunity  from  which  you  can  draw  for  him  a 
living  moral  lesson. 


CHAPTER  V. 

In  this  way,  the  youth  with  whom  you  were  the 
other  day  so  much  delighted,  was  brought  up.  I 
mean  Henry,  the  son  of  Mrs.  Stanley,  an  incarna- 
tion of  perfection,  who  has  honored  me  with  her 
friendship  for  many  years.  This  youth,  who  is  now 
fifteen  years  old,  has  not  yet  been  away  from  his  moth- 
er’s care ; and  what  he  knows,  he  learns  rather  by 
play  than  rote,  in  conversation  with  his  parents  and 
teacher.  His  mother  intends  to  send  him  to  the 
university,  where  she  wishes  he  should  remain,  till  he 
is  twenty-five  years  old,  that  he  may  be  well  grounded 
in  varied  knowledge,  and  become  a ripe  scholar  ; but, 
2* 


26 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


as  yet,  she  says,  she  will  wait  a while  till,  to  use  her 
language,  the  buds  of  virtue  fairly  put  forth.  You 
have  noticed  how  ready  he  is  to  oblige  you  and  show 
you  proper  regard.  On  your  entrance  into  the  room,  as 
the  youngest  in  the  company,  he  was  the  first  to  get 
up  to  offer  you  his  chair ; and  how  gracefully  he  did 
it ! His  becoming  modesty  is  not  bashfulness,  and 
his  gentleness  is  not  timidity.  In  his  address  to  his 
colleagues  he  is  always  civil;  to  the  elder  he  is  even 
deferential,  and  never  obtrusive.  When  in  the  com- 
pany of  his  elders,  he  is  an  attentive  listener ; speaks 
only  when  spoken  to,  or  when  he  is  inquiring  for 
the  sake  of  information ; never  offers  his  own  opinion 
of  his  own  accord,  as  ill-bred  youth  are  apt  to  do, 
but  when  he  is  asked  for  it,  and  then  he  expresses 
himself  without  conceit.  He  never  repeats  before 
others  what  he  has  heard  in  company,  that  may 
concern  any  one  personally,  nor  does  he  invent 
stories.  From  his  very  look,  you  would  take  him  to 
be  of  patrician  blood,  so  stamped  is  it  with  grace 
and  gentility ; yet  he  is  unconscious  of  it ; nor  would 
his  parents  allow  him  to  be  told  of  it.  The  children 
of  vulgar-minded  parents  are  not  unfrequently  made 
acquainted  with  their  own  superiority  above  the 
poorer ; hence  they  acquire  arrogance  of  manner. 
But  Henry  is  told,  notwithstanding  his  being  a son 
of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  families  in  the 
country,  that  he  is  not  above  any  boy  in  the  street, 
only  better  inasmuch  as  he  is  more  virtuous  and 
more  wise ; thus  he  shows  no  pretension  to  dignity. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


27 


and  is  affable  and  engaging  to  all.  In  his  language, 
you  perceive  simplicity  and  elegance  combined  with 
purity  of  feeling  and  appropriateness  of  thought  and 
word.  All  this  is  owing  to  his  hearing  at  his  parents’ 
house,  only  elegant  language;  to  his  having  been 
instructed  in  the  analytical  knowledge  of  his  mother 
tongue,  and  to  his  being  made  familiar  • with  the 
sayings  and  doings  of  distinguished  men  of  all  coun- 
tries and  ages.  These  are  the  principal  means  by 
which  his  parents  wished  to  awaken  and  give  activity 
to  his  mind ; for,  with  the  exception  of  a little  arith- 
metic and  geography,  his  mind  has  not  been  bur- 
thened  with  any  study ; he  knows  the  sciences 
merely  by  their  names.  I should,  however,  add,  that 
he  learns  the  French  and  German  languages,  in 
which  he  has  made  some  proficiency,  since  he  can 
speak  them  both  a little.  Children  ought  early  to 
be  instructed  in  modern  languages,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  converse  in  them,  say  his  parents,  and  thus  the 
most  tedious  task,  (since  the  study  of  languages  is 
such,  as  it  tires  the  memory  of  grown  people,)  is 
overcome  with  greatest  ease,  to  the  no  small  satisfac- 
tion of  the  man,  who  thus  finds  himself  in  possession 
of  the  keys  to  new  worlds  of  thought  and  feeling, 
where  he  will  lose  his  narrow-minded  national  pre- 
judices. This  is  a very  good  discipline  for  young 
minds,  since  the  transposition  of  their  thoughts  from 
one  language  into  another,  is  more  interesting  to 
them,  than  a grave  scientific  speculation ; and  here 
they  acquire  the  mental  activity  so  important  in  their 


28 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


mature  years.  Besides,  there  is  some  truth  in  Sir 
William  Jones’s  observation,  that  man  is  as  many 
times  man,  as  the  number  of  languages  he  knows. 
As  for  the  ancient  languages,  his  parents  consider 
them  of  secondary  importance ; for,  say  they,  the 
experience  of  the  ancients  is  limited,  and  so  is  their 
wisdom ; though  what  there  is  of  it,  is  good  and 
worthy  of  our  attention.  Yet  all  their  wisdom,  and 
more,  can  be  found  in  modern  languages.  They 
intend,  however,  he  should  learn  even  these  lan- 
guages, but  not  till  he  goes  to  the  university,  where 
pedagogues  will  do  ample  justice  to  the  ancients. 
I have  not  yet  mentioned  all  about  this  charming 
youth.  He  is  instructed  on  the  violin  by  his  elder 
brother,  who  is  an  excellent  musician,  and  on  the 
piano  by  his  sister ; but  his  instruction  is  mere  pas- 
time to  him ; he  likes  it,  and  his  parents  encourage 
him  so  much  the  more,  since  music  elevates  the 
heart.  He  who  cannot  feel  the  deep  pathos  of  the 
eloquent  violin,  or  its  innocent  effervescence  of 
gaiety,  must  indeed  suffer  his  humanity  to  be  ques- 
tioned. Henry  is  also  instructed  in  riding  on  horse- 
back ; his  father,  who  is  himself  a good  horseman, 
delights  in  training  him  to  this  manly  pastime ; and 
he  is  in  favor  of  all  manly  exercises,  for  they  develope 
the  body  and  give  it  grace.  He  would  have  all  boys 
skilled  in  horsemanship,  and  particularly  the  sons  of 
a gentleman.  Henry’s  parents  will  have  him  in- 
structed in  the  art  of  fencing,  not  because  they  ap- 
prove of  duelling,  far  from  it,  but  because  it  is  par- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


29 


ticularly  calculated  to  give  strength  and  graceful 
development  to  the  body ; and  for  the  same  reason 
he  takes  lessons  in  dancing.  This  latter  improves 
the  symmetrical  development  of  the  body,  by  adding 
peculiar  graces  of  stature  both  in  rest  and  motion. 
His  parents  are  indeed  very  strenuous  advocates  of 
the  graces,  and  their  advantages  are  always  enforced 
upon  him,  whether  he  sits,  walks,  or  stands.  He 
would  never  be  suffered  to  sit  with  his  legs  lifted  up, 
in  that  nondescript  style  as  sometimes  seen  with  us, 
or  crossed  upon  each  other,  and  making  that  un- 
geometrical  triangle;  nor  to  tip  the  chair,  nor  to 
throw  himself  about  in  it,  or  stretch  his  arms  both 
ways,  as  if  on  a cross.  He  walks  erect  and  uncon- 
strained, with  a firm  and  elastic  step ; if  he  stands, 
he  chooses  an  easy  and  graceful  attitude.  In  what- 
ever he  does,  his  parents  insist  upon  his  paying  court 
to  the  graces ; even  his  least  gesture  is  not  endured 
if  it  be  rustic  or  clownish.  The  most  trifling  im- 
propriety escapes  not  his  parents’  notice ; once  he 
yawned  in  that  vulgar  way,  that  opens  the  mouth 
wide  to  inspection ; and  he  was  instantly  told  of  the 
rusticity  of  the  manner,  and,  for  the  future,  was  bid 
to  endeavor  to  suppress  the  sleepy  inclination,  or  at 
least  to  cover  his  lips  either  with  a handkerchief,  or 
simply  with  a hand,  because  it  is  a disagreeable 
sight  to  others,  and  brings  upon  them  the  same  pro- 
pensity. He  is  frequently  reminded  that  the  refined 
habits  and  graces  acquired  in  youth,  with  a little 
effort,  are  practiced  without  any,  in  after  life,  and 


30 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


are  ever  the  source  of  pleasure  to  others,  and  satis- 
faction to  ourselves.  The  want  of  these  charms 
always  betrays  a plebeian  disposition  of  the  mind. 
Above  all  his  qualities,  I must  mention  the  filial  love 
and  deference  for  the  aged  with  which  he  is  imbued ; 
for  these  are  sure  guarantees  of  the  virtue  of  a good 
citizen.  His  parents’  will  is  a law  to  him,  which  his 
affection  for  them  makes  light ; the  parents,  however, 
are  reasonable  in  their  demands  upon  his  dutifulness. 
There  are  several  reasons  for  which  youth  should 
show  proper  regard  to  the  more  advanced  in  years  : 
out  of  consideration  to  their  parents  to  whom  they 
are  or  may  be  companions,  or  friends ; because  they 
may  be  supposed  to  have  acquired  some  merits  in 
society;  they  may  have  more  know  edge  and  expe- 
rience than  the  young ; because,  if  they  be  aged  and 
decrepid,  it  is  low  to  insult  infirmity ; but  it  is  high- 
minded  to  administer  pleasure  to  those  whom  years 
deprive  of  many  of  its  sources ; because  we  ourselves 
may  arrive  at  that  stage  of  life  and  require  the  same 
that  is  now  demanded  of  us,  and  we  would  be  sorry 
to  find  disrespect,  if  not  contempt,  as  the  wages  of 
our  early  insolence.  Give  them  what  you  would 
ask  for.  Proper  deference  for  the  elder  is  the  link 
which  binds  in  harmony  the  growing  with  the  de- 
clining generation ; without  it,  society  must  witness 
the  jar  of  impudence  and  disdain.  But  this  deference 
implies  not  servility ; the  young  man,  if  he  feel  him- 
self to  be  right,  need  not  sacrifice  his  own  independ- 
ence of  mind,  but  his  manners  must  be  ever  con- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


31 


ciliating  and  courteous  to  the  elder.  The  latter 
must  not  be  imperative  and  selfish,  indulging  in  his 
whims,  but  kind  and  condescending,  willing  some- 
times to  excnse  the  follies  of  youth,  and  mingle  with 
them  in  their  pastimes,  in  order  not  to  lose  hold  upon 
their  affections,  and  present,  by  his  example,  the  en- 
croachments of  ill-breeding.  The  former,  should 
seek  the  company  of  the  elder,  to  profit  from  the 
lessons  of  experience,  which  should  be  kindly  prof- 
fered. 

I cannot  forbear  to  relate  to  you  an  interesting  an- 
ecdote of  this  youth,  which  I have  from  his  father. 
Meek  as  he  appears,  he  is  lion-hearted  in  a good 
cause.  When  but  twelve  years  old,  he  gave  evidence 
of  this.  While  at  play  with  other  boys,  one  of  them 
was  unjustly  ill-treated  by  a stronger  one,  whose 
cause  a few  more  embraced.  The  injured  boy 
stood  trembling  for  fear  of  the  little  rascals,  when 
Henry  comes  to  range  himself  at  his  side,  and  defy 
the  violence  of  the  rest.  Not  frightened  by  the 
blows  to  which  he  exposed  himself,  he  takes  the  boy 
under  his  protection  and  leads  him  safely  home. 
Then,  exalted  with  success,  he  runs  to  his  mother  to 
tell  what  he  had  done.  The  mother  listened  to  the 
little  hero  with  tears  of  joy,  and  pressing  him  to  her 
bosom,  kissed  him,  saying,  “ Oh,  grow,  my  son,  for 
thy  parents’  happiness !” 

Crystals  o affection  trickled  down  his  rosy  cheeks, 
and,  in  all  the  simplicity  of  a child,  he  answered, 
“ Yes,  dear  Mother,  I will.”  Fortunate  is  the  child 


32 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


whose  mother  early  inculcates  the  principle  of  the 
truth,  that  disinterestedness  is  the  purest  source  of 
human  felicity.  I doubt  not  but  these  worthy  pa- 
rents will  attain  their  aim  in  the  education  of  their 
son,  which  is  to  make  him  a well-bred  man.  The 
mark  at  which  they  aim  is  the  highest ; for,  accord- 
ing to  them,  he  is  a thoroughly  well  bred  man  who, 
to  an  extensive  intellectual  culture  and  elevated  sen- 
timents, joins  quick  perception  of  the  delicate  in 
feeling,  and  outward  graces  of  person ; the  two  lat- 
ter constitute  polished  manners,  the  two  former  cul 
tivated  mind. 

Rud.  I am  very  thankful  to  you  for  the  sketch 
you  have  made  of  this  charming  youth,  for  I am 
gratified  to  find  some  of  my  notions  upon  education 
verified  in  him.  By  first  securing  the  health  of  the 
body,  we  prepare  the  youth  to  endure  intellectual 
labor  with  ease  in  his  mature  years.  In  my  estima- 
tion, there  could  not  be  a better  plan  devised  to  give 
activity  and  a degree  of  ripeness  to  the  mind,  and 
infuse  the  love  of  knowledge  into  the  young,  than 
the  one  in  question ; since  here,  study  is  not  made 
wearisome  to  the  child.  As  for  making  the  culture 
of  feeling  the  most  prominent  feature  of  early  edu- 
cation, I should  question  the  sanity  of  the  under- 
standing that  could  doubt  its  paramount  importance. 
At  no  time  can  outward  graces  be  so  easily  acquired 
and  enforced  as  in  youth ; their  charms  and  impor- 
tance are  only  undervalued  by  those  who  possess 
them  not.  Notwithstanding  what  Lord  Chesterfield 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


33 


says  to  the  contrary,  I think  the  accomplishment  of 
music  is  very  desirable  for  a well  bred  man,  as  he 
has  the  means  of  giving  pleasure  to  others ; and  be- 
sides, beguiling  many  an  hour,  he  cultivates  the  finer 
susceptibilities  of  his  own  soul.  I like  the  idea  that 
Schiller  has  of  music;  it  is  to  this  effect,  that  a peo- 
ple who  have  music  are  capable  of  the  highest  de- 
gree of  cultivation.  Thus  having  expressed  to  you 
my  opinion  and  thanks,  I must  remind  you,  that  you 
have  not  performed  what  you  intended  on  the  outset. 
I mean  you  have  not  yet  spoken  of  the  influence  of 
the  fine  arts.  The  pleasure  your  opinions  give  me, 
tempt  me  to  insist  upon  your  performing  your  prom- 
ise ; and  I am  sure  your  kindness  will  overlook  this 
little  selfishness  in  me. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Con.  When  I mentioned  that  the  fine  arts  should  be 
made  instrumental  in  the  education  of  man,  I meant, 
rather,  that  they  should  not  be  overlooked  in  the 
culture  of  a people  as  a mass.  For  education  should 
not  end  with  the  young ; after  man  gets  through  the 
school  of  youth,  he  enters  that  of  manhood.  Music 
excepted,  the  other  fine  arts  exert  their  influence 
upon  man  in  a decided  manner,  only  when  his  intel- 
3 


34 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


lect  is  mature ; it  is  then,  the  grown,  who  are  partic- 
ularly the  fit  subjects  to  be  acted  upon  by  them ; 
though  the  young  ought  to  be  made  to  feel  their  be- 
nificence,  and  acquire  love  for  them  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. Music  has  universal  sway  over  human  nature ; 
it  can  mould  man’s  feelings  while  he  is  yet  in  the 
cradle ; but  architecture,  sculpture,  painting,  require 
an  already  active  intellect  to  feel  their  grandeur, 
beauty,  and  fascination.  There  are  no  people  who 
owe  so  much  to  the  fine  arts  as  the  ancient  Greeks. 

Of  them  we  may  say,  that  they  have  created  these 
arts,  and  in  their  turn  were  themselves  modelled  by 
them.  The  bright  era  of  Pericles  has  not  yet  reap- 
peared amongst  any  people ; and  these  utilitarian, 
money-getting  times  of  ours,  do  not  augur  that  it  will 
ever  shine  upon  the  moderns.  How  desirable  it  were 
that  we  should  be  able  to  say,  in  these  days,  as  it 
was  said  of  the  Athenians,  that  the  people  are  the 
fittest  judges  of  the  fine  arts  ! Such  a high  degree 
of  culture,  if  it  ever  be  attained,  is  very  distant 
from  us. 

It  would  be  worthy  the  efforts  of  a modern  repub- 
lic to  bring  it  about.  But  our  legislators  are  too 
narrow-minded,  too  short-sighted,  to  create  and  sus- 
tain this  beneficent  influence;  and  the  people  are 
yet  too  gross  to  demand  it  at  their  hands ; they  both 
are  blinded  by  Mammon,  and  they  cannot  value 
what  does  not  bring  in  return,  dollars  and  cents. 
But  to  return  to  my  purpose ; of  all  the  arts,  I should 
consider  architecture  as  the  most  capable  of  exerting 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


35 


a great  influence  upon  the  people.  Not  less  justly 
than  beautifully,  does  Madame  De  Stael  call  it  “ fro- 
zen music,”  for  it  is  akin  to  real  music ; in  the  lat- 
ter, the  harmony  of  numbers  speaks  aloud  to  the 
outward  ear ; in  the  former,  it  is  solemnly  silent,  to 
all  but  the  inmost  soul.  Architecture  is  an  embod- 
iment of  the  sense  of  the  sublime  of  humanity,  and 
a monument  to  the  genius  of  the  people  among 
whom  it  flourishes.  It  is  also  a reflex  of  their  char- 
acter. Show  me  the  architecture  of  a people,  as  it 
is  in  their  private  and  public  buildings,  and  I will 
pronounce  upon  their  character.  The  first  attempts 
in  it,  were  as  simple  and  full  of  meaning,  as  the 
feelings  that  prompted  man  to  them  were  unuttera- 
ble. When  he  is  overcome  by  feeling,  either  his 
utterance  fails  him  completely,  or  but  a few  words 
escape  his  lips ; and  so,  when  he  beheld  the  gran- 
deur of  nature  around  him,  his  emotions  found  an 
expression  but  in  a huge  stone,  which  he  planted, 
as  an  emblem  of  the  greatness  and  power  of  the 
Deity  before  whom  he  bowed.  Not  less  sublime 
than  simple  an  utterance  was  this  rough-hewn  pillar 
of  his  emotions,  of  awe  and  reverence  for  his  God. 
But  soon  man’s  intellect  found  means  to  rear  a stu- 
pendous temple,  as  a more  fit  emblem  of  the  great- 
ness of  the  God  of  nature,  and  of  the  profoundness 
of  his  reverence  for  Him.  The  Hindoo  and  Egyp- 
tian sacred  edifices,  that  have  escaped  the  leveling 
hand  of  time  to  this  day,  bear  witness  to  man’s  sub- 
lime conception  of  the  Deity.  As  these  enormous 


36 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


masses  of  stone,  piled  up  in  gigantic  proportions, 
were  but  expressions  of  the  sensations  of  the  sub- 
lime, so  they  never  failed  to  impress  the  beholder 
with  the  same  sentiment.  Among  the  Greeks,  archi- 
tecture was  stamped  with  the  same  character,  though 
somewhat  modified.  Here,  what  it  had  lost  in  gran- 
deur, it  had  gained  in  chasteness  of  execution  and 
elegance  of  proportion ; for  then  the  human  mind 
had  recovered  from  its  first  bewilderment,  and  sought 
also  for  the  beautiful  where  it  found  the  sublime ; 
and  strove  to  combine  them.  The  three  Greek  or- 
ders mark,  sufficiently,  the  changes  that  were  wrought 
in  the  human  mind.  Chasteness,  the  attribute  of 
simplicity,  and  purity,  characterizes  the  Doric ; in  the 
Ionic,  elegance  receives  a slight  tinge  of  voluptuous- 
ness, while  the  Corinthian  reflects  the  refined  sensu- 
alism of  its  originators,  ever  seeking  for  choicest 
pleasures.  The  Composite  testifies  to  the  pampered 
taste  of  the  Roman  voluptuary,  who  cares  less  for 
the  quality  than  the  quantity  of  his  pleasures ; while 
the  Tuscan  is  its  very  opposite,  truly  an  emblem  of 
republican  simplicity.  In  the  Gothic,  we  see  the 
character  of  the  untutored  Goth,  with  less  refinement 
than  depth  of  feeling.  His  northern  climate  gave 
somewhat  a sombre  hue  to  his  thoughts  and  feelings, 
which,  when  become  elevated  and  chastened  by 
Christianity,  he  uttered  in  his  own  peculiar  manner. 
In  this  order  of  architecture,  the  fashioning  hand  of 
the  artist  appears  to  labor  under  constraint,  yet  suc- 
ceeds in  embodying  a gloomy  grandeur,  relieved  by 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


37 


the  bright  hopes  of  heaven,  to  which  the  tapering 
spire  points.  Whatever  may  be  the  state  of  archi- 
tecture at  present  in  civilized  countries,  it  is  always 
but  an  awkward  copy  of  the  past;  it  is  wanting  in 
originality,  and  yet,  withal,  impressed  with  the  spirit 
of  the  age,  the  would-be  character, — pretensions 
without  real  merit.  This  may  seem  to  you  an  ex- 
travagant assertion ; but,  if  you  reflect  a little,  you 
will  find  it  to  be  nearer  the  truth  than  it  appears  at 
first. 

The  lofty  aim  of  the  fine  arts,  should  be  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  human  mind.  Architecture  is  well  adapted 
to  this  purpose;  for  nothing  excites  so  readily, even  in 
the  mind  of  a savage,  the  idea  of  sublimity,  as  a vast 
and  finely  wrought  edifice.  And  as  often  as  man’s 
bosom  is  dilated  by  the  sublime,  so  often  he  ap- 
proaches the  infinite,  leaving  all  low  aspirations  be- 
hind him.  The  Greeks  showed  their  wisdom  in 
profusely  adorning  their  country  with  splendid  public 
edifices,  while  their  private  dwellings  were  models 
of  republican  simplicity.  The  moderns  show  their 
folly  in  not  heeding  the  influences  that  architecture 
may  exert  upon  a people.  Whatever  can  contribute 
to  the  charming  aspect  of  a country,  fastens  upon 
our  imagination  and  rivets  our  affections  to  it ; and 
thus  patriotism  steals  upon  us.  Though  it  cannot 
be  denied,  that  there  were  other  causes  that  fostered 
patriotism,  in  the  heart  of  a Greek  or  a Roman,  yet 
the  influence  of  sacred  and  monumental  architecture 
must  be  considered  as  one  of  them.  Monuments  to 
3* 


38 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


the  worthy  dead,  besides  charming  us  with  their 
intrinsic  beauty,  speak  to  us  of  the  virtues  of  the 
departed,  and  kindle  in  our  bosoms  an  honorable 
rivalry.  Thus  these  silent  preceptors  may  become 
very  successful  in  elevating  the  character  of  a people ; 
and  this  should  be  the  aim  of  architecture. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  sculptor  should  propose  to  himself  the  same 
noble  aim.  He  should  not  prostitute  his  skill  upon 
some  indifferent  subject ; the  noble,  the  grand,  should 
be  his  theme.  While  beauty  and  grace  start  from 
beneath  his  chisel,  he  should  strive  to  diffuse  through- 
out the  outlines  of  the  marble  some  elevated  senti- 
ment, so  that  the  beholder  may  fancy  he  hears  it 
uttered  by  the  statue ; a task,  which  none  but  a 
genius  may  execute.  Limited  as  the  sphere  of  sculp- 
ture is,  its  influence  upon  the  human  heart  is  great ; 
great  in  proportion  as  the  feelings  which  the  artist 
personifies  can  awaken  its  sympathies.  Painting  is 
more  favored  in  the  extent  of  its  influence,  for  it  is 
as  vast  as  nature ; yet  in  its  immediate  effects  upon 
the  beholder,  it  is  not  so  powerful  as  sculpture. 
The  former  pleases  and  fascinates,  the  latter  excites, 
and  even,  if  I may  be  allowed  the  expression,  throws 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


39 


into  our  bosom,  a firebrand  of  the  same  feelings 
with  which  itself  is  glowing.  The  story  of  the 
French  girl,  who  became  violently  enamored  with 
the  Apollo  Belvedere,  corroborates  this  opinion.  The 
rude  savage  would  be  more  impressed  by  a statue 
than  by  a painting  of  equal  merit.  Painting  may 
be  said  to  administer  particularly  to  a more  cultiva- 
ted taste,  that  seeks  gratification,  not  only  in  the 
delicacy,  but  in  tbe  variety  of  its  objects.  Sculpture 
creates  taste,  painting  refines  upon  it ; the  former 
moves,  the  latter  tittillates.  The  reason  of  this  dif- 
ference in  the  effect  must  be  in  the  palpability,  or, 
if  I may  so  express  it,  in  the  massive  reality  of  the 
statue,  and  the  deceptive  surface  of  the  canvas ; 
for  that  will  please  us  more  which  can  act  upon  the 
greatest  number  of  senses.  If  we  are  pleased  with 
anything,  a natural  propensity  leads  us  to  touch  it, 
to  handle  it,  as  it  is  plainly  seen  in  children ; and 
this  we  can  do  in  sculpture,  but  not  in  painting. 
When  we  behold  a finely-wrought  statue,  in  which 
an  idea  is  vividly  embodied,  it  pleases  us,  and  by 
touch  we  may  both  verify  and  enhance  the  pleasure. 
And, in  fact,  the  sense  of  touch  is  the  supreme  judge  in 
our  most  exquisite  pleasures ; proving  the  reality  of  an 
object,  it  measures  the  degree  of  pleasure  we  receive 
by  its  delicacy.  The  enchanting  pleasure  that  mu- 
sic is  capable  of  administering  to  us,  may  depend 
upon  this  delicacy.  For  the  undulating  air,  set  in 
motion  by  the  vibrating  chord,  strikes  with  greater 
or  less  degree  of  force,  one  of  the  most  delicate  struc- 


40 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


tures,  the  tympanum  of  the  ear.  Though  common- 
ly the  modes  of  receiving  impressions  through  the 
senses  of  touch  and  hearing  are  considered  as  dis- 
tinct ; yet,  there  is,  you  will  acknowledge,  sulEcient 
analogy,  to  justify  me  in  giving  here  a greater  lat- 
itude to  the  meaning  attached  to  the  touch. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

How  little  is  music,  the  purest  of  our  delights, 
the  most  incorruptible,  the  holiest  of  influences  that 
sway  the  human  heart,  understood  in  its  nature ! 
There  are  even  some  dumb  souls  of  religionists,  who 
class  it  with  frivolous  pleasures.  Dumb  must  they 
be,  indeed ! Many  composers,  mere  mechanical 
journeymen,  not  comprehending  the  spirit  of  the  art, 
have  undoubtedly  contributed  much  to  retard  the 
taste  for  its  divine  enjoyments,  by  giving  currency 
to  false  notions  as  to  the  character  it  should  possess ; 
and  thus  we  have  but  very  few  fit  judges  of  its  merits. 
Music  is  the  child  of  our  feeling.  The  human  voice 
was  the  first  to  embody  it ; then  came  the  instrument 
to  refine  and  extend  the  power  of  utterance,  which 
the  varied  and  multiplied  emotions  of  the  heart  de- 
manded. The  power  of  the  human  voice  is  limited 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


41 


to  the  more  simple  and  gentle  feelings  of  the  heart ; 
it  can  move  us,  it  can  draw  tears,  but  goes  no  far- 
ther. It  is  because  the  voice  is  so  much  in  unison 
with  these  feelings  that,  in  the  incipient  stage  of  mu- 
sical taste,  vocal  music  pleases  us  more  than  instru- 
mental. To  such  a taste  a simple  ballad  is  more 
pleasing  than  a masterly  overture.  Yet  vocal  music 
may  advance  a step  farther,  and  then  it  enters  into 
the  province  of  instrumental — as  is  the  case  with  the 
opera  or  Italian  style  of  singing,  which  cannot  please 
all,  unless  their  taste  be  equally  cultivated.  Instru- 
mental music  cannot  move  us  to  tears,  or  at  least 
seldom  does,  for  it  carries  us  farther,  where  the  excess 
of  feeling  keeps  the  eye  dry  ; calling  up  unutterable 
sensations  in  successive  tumults,  it  throws  us  in  a 
trance,  where,  for  the  while,  absorbed  in  the  pleasure, 
we  even  may  lose  the  consciousness  of  existence. 
True  music,  I mean  music  that  affects,  not  mere 
jumble  of  sounds,  that  some  please  to  call  music,  has 
four  distinct  traits.  It  may  cause  in  us  uxuberance 
of  joy,  or  animate  us  with  a violent  emotion ; it  may 
soothe  and  tranquilize  discordant  passions,  and  throw 
us  into  soft  melancholy ; or  it  may  call  up  that  suc- 
cessive change  of  feeling,  which  always  pleases  and 
always  varies,  yet  never  rises  above  a certain  degree, 
but,  like  the  waves  of  a gentle  current, 

“ Now  heave  now  fall, 

And  mingling  still  flow  on.” 

A good  composition  must  always  approach  more  or 
less  to  these  characteristics ; the  nearer  it  comes  to 


42 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


any  of  them,  the  more  perfect  it  is.  The  composer 
must  be  inspired  with  an  idea,  and  that  must  pervade 
the  whole  composition ; it  must  be  its  soul.  Har- 
mony and  melody  may  cluster  in  greater  or  less  pro- 
fusion, but  the  idea  moulds  them,  unites  them,  and 
gives  them  life.  Spirit  should  fashion  the  produc- 
tion of  the  artist  be  they  what  they  may ; when  he 
abandons  the  idea  of  his  inspiration,  he  descends 
from  his  high  seat  and  becomes  a mere  mechanician. 
It  is  a prerogative  of  creative  power  to  stamp  its 
productions  with  its  own  character,  as  the  works  of 
the  Almighty  testify ; and  in  proportion  as  that 
power  is  granted  to  man,  should  the  artist’s  produc- 
tions bear  the  seal  of  his  own  creative  spirit.  Nay, 
I should  go  even  farther,  and  apply  the  same  rule  to 
man’s  works  and  conduct  in  general ; mindful  of  his 
dignity  as  man,  all  that  he  does  should  be  a reflex 
of  his  lofty  ideas. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Rud.  I am  gratified  to  find  that  your  opinions 
upon  the  fine  arts  coincide  with  mine;  and  what  I 
am  about  to  add,  may  be  said  to  have  been  taken 
from  your  lips,  for,  I am  sure,  you  will  agree  with  me. 
I would  remark,  that  the  judge  in  the  arts,  must 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


43 


comprehend  the  spirit  with  which  you  would  have 
the  artist  animated.  No  one  is  competent  to  sit  in 
judgment  upon  the  productions  of  the  artist,  unless 
he  have  this  spirit  in  his  own  bosom,  though  crea- 
tive power  may  be  denied  him ; for  it  is  the  same 
spirit  that,  beholding  works  of  genius,  recognizes 
itself  in  them  and  admires  them.  And  the  same 
may  be  said  of  the  musical  performer.  He  is  a mere 
tinkler  who  is  incapable  of  kindling  in  his  own  breast, 
the  same  flame  which  animated  the  composer;  each 
chord  should  respond  to  his  own  feeling.  But  the 
skill  necessary  for  the  good  execution  of  a musical 
composition,  eludes  the  power  of  description,  for  it 
includes  a susceptibility  to  the  nicest  shade  of  emo- 
tion ; yet,  if  a correct  taste  guide  ua;  we  seldom  fail 
to  recognize  it  on  beholding  it  in  action.  Although, 
when  he  is  pouring  out  streams  of  melody,  the  per- 
former be  deeply  agitated  within,  the  outward  man 
is  calm  and  collected  ; like  a volcano  whose  sides 
heave  not,  though  it  throw  forth  torrents  of  turbulent 
fire. 

As  you  seem  drawing  towards  a close,  permit  me 
to  ask  you,  whether  there  are  no  other  manifestations 
of  the  beautiful,  but  those  which  you  have  mentioned, 
since  I have  always  maintained  that  there  are. 

Con.  The  influence  of  the  fine  arts  does  not  stop 
here ; the  beautiful  is  manifested  in  other  ways  be- 
sides those  which  I have  mentioned,  as  you  will  see 
that  this  must  be  the  case,  from  my  -definition  of  the 
fine  arts. 


44 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


The  fine  arts  aim  to  imitate  nature  in  embodying 
the  idea  of  the  beautiful,  each  in  their  respecth'e 
manner.  Hence  to  painting,  sculpture,  and  architec- 
ture, you  must  add  oratory,  poetry,  dancing  and 
gardening.  Scarcely  may  we  be  allowed  to  separate 
oratory  from  poetry,  since  what  is  truly  beautiful  in 
it,  is  poetic ; yet,  as  their  application  sometimes  dif- 
fers, we  may,  for  the  sake  of  convenience,  regard 
them  as  distinct.  The  elements  and  the  conception 
of  what  is  poetic,  are  never  extinguished  in  the  race. 
With  a greater  or  less  intensity,  it  will  glimmer  even 
through  the  darkest  veil  of  ignorance.  It  elevates 
the  race  above  the  brute  creation,  and  affiliates  it  to 
higher  natures.  To  me,  the  poetic  element  is  the 
best  argument^in  favor  of  the  immortality  of  the 
soul ; it  penetrates  the  crust  of  the  material  world, 
and  sheds  a ray  of  hope,  promising  better  destinies 
for  the  race  hereafter.  It  buoys  up  the  soul,  even 
when  it  seems  to  be  engulphed  in  sense.  It  is  the 
spiritual  lever  destined  to  make  the  human  race  rise 
to  the  highest  degree  of  civilization  and  perfection. 
Though  assuming  various  phases,  yet,  it  ever  was 
and  is  active  in  the  human  soul ; the  rudest  tribes 
even,  are  blessed  with  its  beneficent  influence.  Could 
man  but  apprehend  its  character,  and  follow  its  im- 
pulses, happiness  would  not  be  so  empty  a word  as 
he  now  finds  it  to  be.  You  may  think  by  what  I 
have  said,  that  I am  going  to  sentimentalize.  No — 
sickly  sentimentality  finds  no  harbor  in  my  bosom ; 
it  is  a noxious  weed  of  rich  soils,  and  spreads  only 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


45 


where  the  hand  of  a skilful  cultivator  has  not  been 
applied.  True  sentiment  differs  as  much  from  sen- 
timentality, as  a living  spring  from  a standing  pool ; 
the  one  is  limpid  and  refreshing,  the  other  turbid 
and  deadly.  Oratory  and  poetry  being  subjective, 
or  drawing  their  materials  from  within  the  human 
heart,  are  vast  in  their  influence  for  good  or  evil, 
according  as  they  happen  to  be  used ; but,  when 
rightly  appreciated  and  directed,  their  importance  in 
the  culture  of  a people,  cannot  be  over  estimated. 
By  oratory  and  poetry,  I do  not  mean  merely  declama- 
tion and  the  art  of  rhyming ; these  both  are  a mere 
outward  shell,  too  often  empty  of  its  living  kernel, 
or  a garb  in  which  the  poetic  may  be  dressed.  True 
poetry  is  not  less  so,  though  in  the  disguise  of  prose. 
In  addition  to  dancing,  I consider  all  graceful  mo- 
tions of  the  body,  as  pertaining  to  the  fine  arts. 
The  motions  of  the  body  are  but  another  language ; 
each  gesture,  each  movement,  is  a word  having  its 
import.  Grace  is  to  the  motions  of  the  body,  what 
clearness  and  sweetness  of  utterance  is  to  speech ; 
the  former  is  as  necessary  to  be  acquired  as  the  lat- 
ter, for  both  are  indications  of  refinement.  Where 
graceful  and  appropriate  motions  of  the  body  are 
associated  with  speech,  the  language  becomes  more 
forcible,  and  the  hearer  yields  his  assent  almost  irre- 
sistibly. The  graces  of  the  body  never  fail  in  en- 
listing our  good  will  in  favor  of  their  possessor ; 
often  even  against  our  better  judgment ; and  we  not 
unfrequently  feel  repulsed  from  a person  whose  only 
4 


46 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


misfortune  is  to  be  forsaken  by  the  graces.  As  for 
dancing,  I should  define  it  to  be  an  expression  of 
the  exuberance  of  the  animal  spirits.  It  is  as  irra- 
tional to  exclude  it  as  to  countenance  an  excessive 
indulgence  in  it.  A rational  indulgence  in  this 
kind  of  exercise  is  healthful  both  to  the  mind  and 
body  ; grace,  however,  must  not  be  here  overlooked ; 
for  it  is  the  poetic  in  motion.  The  extent  of  the  in- 
fluence of  gardening,  as  a fine  art,  upon  man’s  cul- 
ture, is  rarely  thought  of,  although  it  is  so  obvious. 
That  it  is  pleasant  and  useful,  all  will  concede ; but 
its  higher  claims  are  not  recognized.  This  whole 
earth  is  itself  a garden,  laid  out  by  the  hand  of 
Omnipotence.  The  garden  shaped  by  the  human 
hand  should  be  an  imitation  of  it,  as  far  as  human 
skill  can  make  it  so.  It  should  be,  so  to  speak,  na- 
ture pictured  in  the  camera  obscura  of  a few  acres. 
The  magnificent  should  be  mingled  with  the  beauti- 
ful.  As  a splendid  landscape  delights  *the  eye  and 
elevates  the  soul,  so  would  also  a garden  shaped  by 
the  poetic  conception  of  genius.  Individuals  can  con- 
ceive, but  their  resources  seldom  can  accomplish 
such  a work ; communities  may  have  the  means  to 
execute  it,  but  they  are  rarely  susceptible  of  the  no- 
ble conceptions  of  which  it  will  be  the  embodiment. 
Until  spiritual  wealth  be  considered  more  important 
than  material  wealth,  as  well  to  individuals  as  to 
communities,  we  cannot  hope  that  this  art  will  be 
cultivated  for  the  benefit  of  the  public.  Until  that 
time  we  must  expect  to  see  the  population  of  our 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


47 


cities  continue  in  brutal  blindness  to  the  beauties  of 
nature,  and  ignorant  of  the  sentiments  which  they 
are  calculated  to  inspire. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Rud.  Finding  you  so  indulgent  to  me,  I am 
emboldened  to  propose  to  you  a new  task.  You 
have  mentioned  to  me  Mrs.  Stanley,  and  her  son 
Henry,  in  such  terms,  that  I could  not  help  taking 
in  them  a lively  interest.  You  have  not,  however, 
half  satisfied  my  curiosity  in  respect  to  them.  Be 
good  enough  to  give  me  a particular  account  of  the 
family  It  is  but  right  that  you  should  satisfy  the 
curiosity,  which  you  yourself  have  excited,  especially 
when  it  happens  to  be  so  laudable.  But  even  this  is 
not  all ; I have  another  request  to  make.  The  more 
I hear  you  speak  on  education,  the  more  I desire  to 
become  familiar  with  your  views  upon  it.  Thus  far 
you  have  merely  given  me  a general  outline  of  the 
subject.  You  know  I like  details;  do  not  then 
refuse  to  give  me  a more  extended  view  of  your 
notions  upon  education.  Do  first  which  ever  you 
please,  but  I am  not  disposed  to  release  you  from 
fulfilling  both  my  requests. 

Con.  You  seem  to  overlook  the  difficulty  of  the 


48 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


task  you  propose  to  me.  It  will  not  be  easy  for  me 
to  acquit  myself  in  this  matter  to  my  own  satisfac- 
tion. Education,  as  I comprehend  it,  embraces  the 
whole  life  of  man  in  all  its  phases,  from  the  sunrise 
of  the  infant,  to  the  sunset  of  the  man.  I do  not 
feel  competent  to  run  this  vast  career  with  equal 
vigor  and  grace.  As  for  the  family  of  the  Stanleys, 
here  also  I shall  meet  with  some  difficulty.  Their 
life  became  my  study,  for  I found  in  them  my  ideal 
of  life.  I fear  I shall  fall  short  of  doing  them  justice. 
However,  I shall  attempt  to  satisfy  you ; how  suc- 
cessful I shall  be  in  the  attempt,  you  will  judge. 
As  you  leave  me  the  choice  of  the  manner  in  which 
I am  to  answer  your  requests,  I wdll  consult  my  own 
pleasure.  In  drawing  you  a sketch  of  the  family  of 
the  Stanleys,  I w’ill  present  you  the  results  of  educa- 
tion, conducted  under  the  light  of  the  true,  the  good, 
and  the  beautiful.  Their  characters  will  be  the 
models  from  which  you  will  deduce  such  rules  of 
education  and  life  as  will  be  warranted  by  them. 
In  this  way  I propose  to  satisfy,  at  the  same  time, 
both  your  requests. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley,  descendants  of  a noble 
family  in  England,  have  inherited  all  those  qualities 
by  which  true  nobility — nature’s  nobility — is  distin- 
guished. Notw'ithstanding  the  usual  jealousy  and 
hatred  shown  by  little  souls,  narrow  heads,  and 
empty  pockets,  towards  those  w'ho  seem  to  move,  as 
it  w'ere,  on  the  surface  of  society,  the  neighbors  of 
the  mansion  of  Holy-brood  revered  its  occupants; 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


49 


and  often,  with  pride,  would  point  out  to  the  passing 
stranger,  the  seat  of  their  republican  nobles,  accom- 
panying with  the  characteristic  observation  of  these 
untraveled  republicans,  “ You  have  nothing  like  it 
in  your  country,  have  ye  ? ” It  is  a redeeming  fea- 
ture in  human  nature,  and  an  argument  against  total 
depravity,  that  however  low  man  may  descend,  he  is 
constrained  to  do  homage  to  excellence,  and  even 
exult  in  it,  if  he  happen  to  have  with  it  any  con- 
nexion, though  ever  so  remote.  Such  is  the  case 
with  the  neighbors  of  the  Stanleys ; all  the  good,  the 
wicked,  and  the  envious,  join  in  their  praise.  For- 
tune, for  this  once,  showed  herself  just  in  lavishing 
her  favors  upon  Mr.  Stanley,  who  eminently  deserves 
them ; he  is  rather  the  steward  than  the  sole  owner 
of  his  vast  possessions.  , He  has  four  children. 
Zeno,  the  eldest,  is  about  twenty-four  years  old ; 
Isabella,  who  has  completed  her  twenty-first  year,  is 
the  oldest  daughter ; next  comes  Henry,  the  hopeful 
Adonis,  as  his  fond  mother  playfully  styles  him,  and 
with  whom  I have  made  you  acquainted;  and  last, 
his  youngest  sister  Helen,  that  blue-eyed  cherub, 
whom  you  have  also  seen.  Mark  what  a charming 
family-group  these  Stanleys  make ! good  enough  to 
immortalize  a painter.  See  how  well  they  represent 
the  various  stages  of  human  life.  Helen,  physically, 
is  a perfect  child.  A sound,  well-formed  body, 
sufficiently  regular  features,  fresh  rosy  cheeks,  laugh- 
ing eyes,  complete  the  picture  of  her  happy  childhood. 
Henry’s  healthy  and  roguish  countenance,  and 
4* 


50 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


graceful  mien,  evince  a robust  constitution,  and  a 
spirit  fit  for  any  destiny.  But  by  the  education, 
which  will  stamp  his  character,  he  will  be  fitted  only 
for  good  and  noble  deeds.  Isabella  is  a fully  devel- 
oped girl.  In  the  proportions  of  her  figure  there  is 
perfect  symetry ; there  is  grace  and  airiness,  but  not 
at  the  expense  of  strength;  there  is  fullness  and 
roundness  of  outline,  but  not  at  the  cost  of  delicacy 
and  softness.  Her  features  are  of  the  style  of 
Raphael’s  Madona,  which,  in  my  estimation,  is  not 
less  beautiful  than  the  Greek  model.  The  lily  and 
the  rose  mingle  their  hues  in  her  cheeks.  The 
coral  lips,  when  in  a smile,  disclose  a row  of  regular, 
ivory-white,  teeth.  Her  large,  soft  blue  eyes,  full  of 
intelligence  and  kindness,  look  heaven  upon  you, 
from  under  her  long,  dark  eye-lashes.  Her  light, 
luxuriant,  and  glossy  hair,  is  always  disposed  with  a 
chaste  simplicity  around  her  ample  forehead.  Her 
whole  countenance,  so  open  and  unsuspectmg,  speaks 
volumes.  It  is  enough  to  see  her  buoyant  step,  often 
an  indication  of  much  excellence  of  heart,  to  be  pre- 
p'ossessed  in  her  favor,  even  before  seeing  her  radiant 
countenance.  At  present,  however,  she  has  some- 
what a pensive  look,  not  unfrequent  in  girls  of  her 
age  and  sensibility;  she  may  feel  a vacuum  in  her 
heart,  but,  as  yet,  finds  no  object  to  fill  it.  Should 
you  see  her  white,  elegantly-chiseled  hand,  with  its 
long,  tapering  fingers,  tinted  with  a delicate  rose-hue, 
— a hand  with  which  one  instinctively  associates  a 
noble  soul — you  would  think  it  happiness  to  be  the 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


51 


object  of  its  caresses.  This  is  but  a hasty  sketch  of 
Isabella;  I leave  to  your  imagination  to  fill  up  the 
picture.  Her  brother,  Zeno,  is  a rather  tall  and 
well-shaped  man,  with  broad  shoulders  and  a finely 
developed  chest — a real  athlete.  His  complexion  is 
fresh,  somewhat  dark.  His  rounded  chin  and  well- 
marked  lips,  give  him  an  air  of  boldness  and  firm- 
ness; his  shapely  nose  indicates  clear-sightedness. 
His  eye  is  clear  and  somewhat  tempered  by  thought. 
His  lofty  forehead  betokens  great  intellect.  His 
dark  clustering  hair  completes  his  manly  appearance. 
He  can  look  like  a war-beating  Mars,  and  trip  grace- 
fully round  gentle  maidens.  Mrs.  Stanley,  his  mother, 
though  a woman  of  forty-five,  has  not  lost  her 
charms.  Her  finely  cast  countenance  is  as  fresh  as 
ever,  and  her  form  retains  its  soft  roundness.  Her 
auburn  hair  is  still  wavy  and  lustrous  as  when  a 
maiden.  Her  smooth  and  expanded  forehead,  is  the 
very  seat  of  serenity.  Her  eyes  have  not  yet  lost 
their  brilliancy,  nor  her  spirits,  buoyancy.  When  in 
a gay  mood,  sometimes  she  tosses  her  head  back  a lit- 
tle, the  smile,  opening  her  well-defined  lips,  uncovers 
the  beautiful  teeth,  and  her  whole  countenance  lights 
up;  she  presents  to  my  mind  a picture  of  perfect 
feminine  maturity.  What  she  has  lost  in  the  airy 
gracefulness  of  a maiden,  she  has  gained  in  the 
equally  charming  stateliness  becoming  her  age.  Mr. 
Stanley,  her  husband,  is  as  vigorous  and  athletic,  to 
all  appearances,  as  his  Zeno,  notwithstanding  that  a 
gentle  frost  begins  to  cover  the  head  over  which 


52 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


fifty-three  winters  have  passed.  This  slight  change 
of  hair  is  the  only  indication  of  his  age.  His  manly 
bearing,  his  fine,  lordly  countenance,  and  his  eagle 
eye,  beaming  with  penetration,  give  him  an  air  of 
superiority,  courage,  and  wisdom.  He  enters  readily 
into  any  frolic  that  young  people  can  join  in ; he  is 
humorous,  kind,  and,  altogether,  an  agreeable  old 
gentleman.  Here,  then,  you  have  the  picture  of  the 
Stanleys  presented  to  your  mind’s  eye,  that  you  may 
learn  that,  at  least  in  their  case,  it  is  true,  that  fine 
souls  dwell  in  fine  bodies. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Rud.  Thanks  to  your  pencil,  the  picture  is  vivid 
in  my  mind.  I pronounce  you  to  be  a Vandyke. 
But  a question  occurs  to  me.  How  have  they  be- 
come possessed  of  this  physical  well-being?  They 
must  have  had  a good  physical  training. 

Con.  They  received  an  excellent  physical  educa- 
tion ; and,  besides,  both  the  parents  and  the  children, 
were  blessed  by  nature  with  good  constitutions.  I 
shall  read  you  a letter  of  his,  which  he  wrote  to  me 
upon  the  subject.  He  is  a sagacious  observer  of  na- 
ture and  men.  Most  people  live,  chewing,  all  their 
life-time,  merely  the  husk  of  things ; but  he  readily 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


53 


breaks  through  the  husk,  and  penetrates  into  the 
very  centre  of  the  kernel.  He  thus  addresses  me  : 

My  dear  friend  Conrad, 

Willing  as  I am  to  comply  with  the  desire  ex- 
pressed in  your  last,  I take  the  pen  hesitatingly,  for 
I doubt  whether  I shall  be  able  to  communicate  to 
you  anything  new  that  you  may  have  not  thought 
upon ; besides,  you  know  already  many  of  my  notions. 
However,  as  you  are  willing  to  hear  a twice-told 
tale,  be  it  so.  We  must  know  what  we  should  pro- 
pose to  ourselves  in  bringing  up  children.  I say, 
we  must  make  them  Herculeses,  in  body  and  mind. 
Some  women  would  have  them  Apollos  and  Venuses; 
but,  no  matter,  either  is  better  than  men  of  the 
woods — orang-outangs.  I maintain  that  both  objects 
may  be  obtained,  if  we  use  our  reason  aright.  Un- 
derstand nature — learn  to  follow  her  laws.  She 
governs  by  contrarieties,  which,  by  their  action  and 
re-action,  produce  a medium  course ; hence  follow 
continuity  and  regularity  of  action.  She  exposes 
man  to  such  influences,  and,  at  the  same  time,  gives 
him  the  means  of  protecting  himself  against  them. 
Action  is  the  universal  law  of  nature ; and  we  hold 
our  life  on  the  condition  of  activity.  All  this  man 
must  try  to  understand,  else  he  must  pay  dearly  for 
his  ignorance.  Begin  to  harden  your  child  in  its 
cradle.  See  how  nature  treats  it  at  its  birth ; to 
what  extremes  and  changes  she  exposes  it,  with  no 
other  covering  than  its  sensitive  skin.  But  she 


54 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


provides  it  with  the  stomach,  and  a pair  of  lungs  to 
furnish  its  own  heat.  Give  it  then  good  material 
and  but  little  covering,  and  it  will  do  well.  Give  it 
abundance  of  fresh  air  and  its  appropriate  food,  and 
it  will  warm  its  own  bed  without  your  otEciousness. 
Why  feather-beds  and  pillows?  and  stuffed  head- 
dresses, and  baby-shoes,  and  all  such  nonsense  ? Are 
you  kinder  than  nature?  Nature  is  the  kindest 
mother  of  all.  Put  then  the  child  on  an  even  bed, 
flat  on  its  back,  with  but  gentle  covering  to  its  head 
and  body ; let  it  lie  then  without  being  rocked,  and 
do  not  mind  whether  it  lie  in  light  or  darkness,  noise 
or  quiet ; it  will  sleep  if  it  need  rest.  Thus  you 
save  yourself  much  trouble,  and  benefit  the  child. 
Every  morning  dip  it  in  cold  water,  to  imitate  the 
wise  practice  of  the  children  of  nature,  and  wipe  it 
dry ; continue  this  practice  till  the  child  can  do  the 
same  without  your  assistance.  Make  the  child  go 
bare-footed  till  its  eighth  or  tenth  year,  but  see  that 
its  feet  be  always  clean  ; or,  if  you  give  shoes,  do  not 
let  it  wear  stockings.  Thus  the  child’s  feet  get 
hardened  to  bear  exposure,  and  it  will  not  be  subject 
to  taking  cold.  It  will  be  hard  to  persuade  mothers 
to  follow  this  course,  especially  with  their  daughters, 
for  they  think  it  will  spoil  the  beauty  of  the  feet,  so 
important  to  girls ; they  will  have  Chinese  notions 
about  beauty,  say  you  what  you  will.  Nature  will 
put  the  body  into  a better  shape  than  your  lacing, 
bandaging,  or  shoeing ; only  let  it  have  unconstrained 
use  of  all  its  parts.  I have  already  departed  far 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


55 


enough  from  the  popular  notions,  in  these  matters, 
to  deserve  excommunication ; but  how  the  wise  pub- 
lic would  be  shocked,  if  they  were  told  that  I made 
my  children  go,  throughout  the  warm  season,  every 
morning,  bare-footed,  into  the  grass  to  dew  their  feet, 
instead  of  washing  them  with  cold  water ; the  former 
practice  being  more  beneficial.  To  encourage  them 
in  this  practice,  I used  to  go  myself,  and  now,  when 
they  are  grown,  they  do  it  with  pleasure,  whenever 
it  is  convenient;  for  they  understand  its  benefits. 
This  simple  process  of  running  upon  the  wet  grass 
for  a few  minutes,  by  the  sudden  cold  and  friction 
of  the  grass  against  the  feet,  sends  a pleasant  glow 
into  these  extremities,  and  keeps  the  skin  more  ac- 
tive, and  thereby  they  are  protected  from  taking 
cold ; and  even  when  sometimes  they  have  a slight 
one,  they  get  cured  of  it.  All  that  one  has  to  do, 
after  this  process,  is  to  wipe  his  feet  dry  and  put  on 
shoes.  When,  in  summer,  there  is  a pleasant  warm 
rain,  and  the  atmosphere  is  in  a highly  electric  state, 
as  when  it  thunders,  under  the  disguise  of  a frolic, 
to  effect  my  purpose  good  naturedly,  I used  to  drive 
my  children  into  the  rain  until  wet  to  the  skin ; 
then  let  them  in  and  tell  them  to  get  dry.  They 
soon  learned  to  like  this  frolic,  and  did  it  of  their 
own  accord.  You  know  that  plants  grow  better 
when  exposed  to  these  conditions  of  the  air,  because 
of  their  being  electrified ; for  the  same  reason  ani- 
mals get  benefited  when  thus  exposed.  I have  never 
allowed  them  to  mind  the  weather,  rain  or  shine ; 


56 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


unless  there  be  a good  reason  to  the  contrary,  my 
boys  and  girls  would  go  out.  I saw  that  they  had 
on  sufficient  clothes,  but  never  too  many  ; they  must 
keep  themselves  warm  by  activity ; and  I have  never 
allowed  them  other  than  a light  covering  to  their 
head,  the  hair  being  quite  a sufficient  fur.  They 
never  sleep  on  feathers ; a hard  matress,  with  a 
small  pillow  of  the  same  stuff,  makes  quite  a luxuriant 
bed  for  them,  as  well  as  for  me.  It  is  important, 
especially  in  childhood,  to  accustom  the  child  to  lie 
on  the  level  with  the  back.  I have  always  endeav- 
ored to  inure  them  to  fatigue ; due  precautions 
taken,  I encourage  them  in  running,  leaping,  and  all 
kinds  of  gymnastic  exercises,  and  often  take  a part 
in  them  myself ; which,  of  course,  pleases  them 
much.  It  is  good  for  them  to  spend  much  time  in 
the  open  air.  I am  also  careful  what  kind  of  play- 
mates they  have.  Low-bred  boys  and  silly  nurses 
are  not  admitted  into  their  presence ; and  when  I 
am  with  them,  I am  on  my  guard  to  behave  with  as 
much  propriety,  as  if  I were  in  the  company  of  my 
superiors.  I am  persuaded  that  moral  influence  be- 
gins while  the  infant  is  in  the  arms  of  its  nurse ; 
and  so  I am  mindful  of  it.  But  my  presence  is  not 
a damper  upon  their  joyous  spirits ; for  they  are 
permitted  to  do  whatever  does  not  injure  themselves 
or  offend  others.  Remember,  that  joyous  spirits  and 
laughter  are  the  greatest  antidotes  to  dyspepsy  and 
hypochondria.  Thus  I treat  my  boys  and  girls 
without  reference  to  sex.  Some  mothers,  less  wise 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


57 


than  tender-hearted,  would  desire  for  their  girls  ex- 
emption from  this,  so  to  speak,  boyish  treatment, 
lest  they  lose  some  of  the  delicacy  of  their  sex,  (I 
suppose  they  mean  conventional,  not  true  delicacy,) 
and  become  rough  and  coarse.  Nature  has  sufS- 
ciently  stamped  the  two  sexes,  and  will  keep  them 
distinct,  without  man’s  interference ; what  is  good 
for  the  development  of  the  body  for  one  sex,  is 
good  for  the  other  also;  health  and  beauty  can  be 
expected  only  when  the  body  is  well-developed. 
True  delicacy  of  symmetry,  is  consistent  with  the 
vigor  of  the  body.  A woman,  with  cultivated  mind, 
refined  feelings,  and  elegant  manners,  will  still  pos- 
sess her  true  feminine  delicacy,  be  she  even  a giant- 
ess. Until  nature  awakens  the  instinct  of  sex,  I 
disregard  it.  It  is  well  to  keep  the  two  sexes  to- 
gether ; only  have  an  eye  upon  them  ; for  there  are 
certain  better  feelings  of  our  nature,  peculiar  to  each 
sex,  which  can  be  developed  in  cbildbood  only  by 
intercourse.  My  wife,  thank  heaven,  is  a very  sen- 
sible woman,  as  you  know;  she  can  be  reasoned 
with  and  convinced  ; so  she  never  raised  any  difficul- 
ties in  my  way,  and  I also  was  glad  to  listen  to  her 
advice.  And  now  who  can,  in  the  whole  country, 
show  me  more  elegantly  formed  and  healthy  children 
than  my  boys  and  girls?  With  the  exception  of  the 
diseases  incident  to  children’s  age,  and  of  which 
they  make  a very  light  matter,  they  are  always  well ; 
and,  what  is  more  unusual  in  these  times,  when  they 
were  teething  they  were  not  ill  at  all.  When  we  are 
5 


5S 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


in  harmony  with  nature’s  laws,  all  the  usual  pro- 
cesses of  the  system  are  performed  with  no,  or  little 
pain  to  us.  So  much  for  having  received  a sound 
constitution  from  their  parents  and  a good  training. 
Man  thrives  the  best  in  hardships ; if  there  be  any 
worth  in  him,  it  will  be  brought  out,  to  his  greater 
glory,  under  trials  that  are  not  overwhelming;  this 
truth  holds  good  as  well  physically  as  morally. 

As  for  diet,  my  rules  are  simple.  Food  must  be 
sound,  easily  digestible,  prepared  in  the  most  whole- 
some and  palatable  manner,  given  in  quantities 
neither  too  great,  nor  too  small,  and  at  intervals 
when  appetite  dictates.  The  infant  should  be  fed 
on  healthy  human  milk ; and  I do  not  hesitate  to  use 
the  milk  of  any  quadruped,  as  the  horse,  cow,  sheep, 
goat,  &c.;  and  do  it  alternately.  As  the  child 
grows,  occasionally  I let  it  have  strong  and  clear 
broth.  Soups,  (without  any  condiments,)  broths  and 
gruels,  of  all  kinds,  make  my  children’s  usual  break- 
fast and  dinner.  Fresh  beef  and  fowls,  of  the  more 
digestible  kind,  in  moderate  quantities,  tender  vege- 
tables, well  prepared,  good  stale  bread,  (I  mean  em- 
phatically well  baked  bread,)  light  puddings  and  not 
rich  pies,  soft  eggs,  with  sufficient  allowance  of  good 
cold  water,  make  up  the  articles  of  the  food  my  child- 
ren live  upon,  from  the  time  they  get  their  teeth  up  to 
their  fifteenth  year.  They  are  never  allowed  either 
tea  or  coffee,  on  any  consideration,  as  long  as  I have 
any  influence  over  them  ; in  fact,  we  do  not  use  these 
pernicious  drugs  in  our  house.  Nor  do  I allow  them 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


59 


any  salted  food  whatever ; though  salt,  as  a condi- 
ment, is  permitted.  My  wife  and  myself  see  that 
the  children  have  their  breakfast,  dinner,  and  sup- 
per prepared  expressly  for  them.  I call  most  of  the 
cakes  and  sweetmeats  we  have  on  our  tea-tables  per- 
nicious trumpery,  and  my  children  are  forbidden  to 
taste  of  them.  Nature  knows  the  measure  of  her 
wants,  if  she  be  left  to  act  without  interference; 
she  knows  when  the  demand  for  nourishment  is  sa- 
tiated. When  we  give  food  to  children,  we  must  be 
particular,  that  it  should  be  easily  soluble  in  the 
juices  of  the  stomach.  The  food  that  is  readily  di- 
gestible is  readily  penetrated  by  the  gastric  juices, 
and  when  a sufficient  quantity  of  it  is  taken,  the 
hunger  is  appeased.  But  when  hard  food,  difficult 
to  be  digested  is  taken,  the  juices  not  penetrating  it 
readily,  the  child  still  hungers,  although  already  too 
great  a quantity  of  it  might  have  been  taken  ; hence 
a surcharge  of  the  stomach  follows,  w'ith  the  train  of 
its  bad  consequences.  It  is  evident,  then,  that  easily 
soluble  food  must  be  particularly  sought  after.  Never 
accustom  your  child  to  be  suckled  in  the  night ; this 
must  be  done  before  it  goes  to  sleep ; the  mother’s 
health  is  of  as  much  importance  as  the  child’s ; she 
must  have  then  a due  allowance  of  rest.  If  you 
early  begin  so,  the  child  will  never  disturb  you 
before  the  morning ; and  then  its  demands  must  be 
complied  with. 

A few  words  must  be  added  on  the  treatment  of 
children  when  in  sickness.  Trust  rather  to  nature 


60 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


than  to  man’s  skill ; it  is  as  well  that  the  child  should 
die  of  disease  as  of  treatment.  If  the  child  is  to  be 
an  invalid  for  its  life-time,  is  it  not  better  that  it 
should  die  at  once  ? It  is  the  selfishness  of  parents 
that  desires  sickly  children  to  live ; true  affection, 
that  looks  calmly  and  disinterestedly  upon  the  con- 
sequences, prefers  their  death  to  protracted  misery. 
Their  body  only  dies ; their  spirit  lives  happy,  for  it 
returns  unto  the  Eternal  Father.  For  my  part,  if  it 
cannot  live  healthy,  I would  rather  see  my  child  die. 
I do  not  speak  from  any  prejudice,  but  from  the 
knowledge  of  the  state  of  information  in  matters  of 
disease.  Physicians  may  be  safely  said  to  kill  one 
third  of  their  patients ; the  second  third  may  live  in 
spite  of  their  treatment,  while  they  may  cure  the 
remainder.  Now,  it  seems  to  me,  the  race  is  bene- 
fited when  the  sickly  die  out ; for  the  remainder 
are  more  robust,  and,  consequently,  the  next  genera- 
tion will  be  also.  It  would  be  with  the  human  race 
as  it  is  with  animals,  who  have  no  physician  but 
nature ; those  that  live  are  always  well,  those  that 
die,  do  so  because  nature  in  them  is  too  weak  to 
resist  disease.  This  view  of  the  subject  will  be  ob- 
jected to,  because  there  will  be,  it  would  be  said, 
too  much  sacrifice  of  individual  feelings,  if  the  sickly 
be  left  to  the  resources  of  nature  alone.  But  this 
would  be  compensated  to  us  by  a higher  enjoyment 
of  life,  in  those  who  would  remain ; and,  besides, 
must  we  not  be  willing  to  sacrifice  something  of 
ourselves,  for  the  general  good  of  the  race  ? Look 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


61 


at  the  world,  and  what  'a  startling  fact  you  will  per- 
ceive ! There  is  more  health,  more  vigor  and  beauty 
of  the  body,  where  there  is  the  least  number  of  phy- 
sicians. Contrast,  for  instance,  Greece,  where  are 
eighty  physicians  to  the  whole  population,  or  South 
America,  (where  a physician  is  scarcely  to  be  found,) 
with  our  United  States,  a nation  of  invalids,  as  some 
foreigners  call  us,  and  the  balance  of  health  will  be 
evident.  If  the  making  of  new  diseases,  and  the 
coining  of  new  names  for  the  old  ones,  is  a glory  to 
be  desired,  then  we  may  exult.  But  I need  not  en- 
large upon  this  subject ; I know  much  may  be  said 
in  its  favor.  These  are  my  convictions ; others 
may  think  as  they  please.  At  any  rate  I should 
never  employ  a physician,  who  could  not  cure  dis- 
eases without  mercury,  bleeding,  or  leeching;  and 
would  advise  you  to  do  the  same.  I know  that  some 
of  them  must  have  our  confidence,  but  I know,  also, 
that  it  should  not  be  given  but  to  few  of  them.  To 
know  what  physician  has  the  sagacity  to  seize  na- 
ture’s secrets,  one  must  have  a little  of  the  same 
capacity  himself,  and  then  he  can  know  better  who 
deserves  his  confidence;  as  for  the  vulgar,  the  un- 
read, and  the  unthinking,  one  cannot  give  them  any 
guide  in  this  respect;  they  are  doomed  to  be  the 
dupes  of  appearances.  Use,  then,  simple  remedies, 
and  sparingly ; diet  and  exercise  in  the  open  air 
must  be  the  grand  panacea  for  your  children.  Apro- 
pos of  exercise,  I forgot  to  mention  that  I never  allow 
my  children  to  eat  or  drink  immediately  after  fa- 
5* 


62 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


tigue ; they  must  get  rested  first.  Neither  do  I allow 
them  to  enter  into  any  active  sport,  or  hard  study, 
soon  after  a meal ; I let  them  first  amuse  them- 
selves in  some  gentle  manner.  You  perceive  how 
general  and  brief  my  remarks  upon  this  important 
subject  are.  The  limits  of  a letter,  and  your  own 
learning,  forbid  me  to  enter  into  details.  These  are 
the  reasons  of  my  here  stating  to  you  merely  my 
general  views  upon  the  subject,  without  explaining 
them  in  particular.  And  there  is  another  reason,  (I 
must  confess,)  the  fear  of  your  saying  that  the  old 
man  grows  prosy.  There  is  another  subject  of  equal 
importance,  but  which  is  shamefully  neglected.  I 
mean  the  physical  improvement  of  the  race — how  to 
render  the  body  beautiful,  and  less  subject  to  disease. 
For  him,  who  has  traveled  over  the  world,  the 
mournful  fact  that  the  race  is  deteriorating,  is  every 
where  evident.  One  hundred  years  ago,  Haller  pro- 
nounced the  Anglo-Saxons  the  best  specimens  of 
the  Caucasian  race  in  Europe.  What,  could  he  see 
us,  would  he  now  say  of  their  descendants?  He 
might  safely  reverse  his  dictum.  AVhen  I witness  a 
grave  clergyman  consoling  a mother  bereaved  of  her 
child,  by  saying  that  God’s  visitation  must  be  borne 
meekly,  that  she  must  pray  and  thank  the  chastening 
hand  of  the  Almighty,  pity  and  indignation,  at  this 
gross  ignorance  and  blasphemy  of  the  Creator,  rise 
in  my  breast.  Say  rather  your  follies  and  vices,  and 
those  of  your  fathers,  kill  your  child.  God’s  fiat 
went  forth  for  once,  and  it  is  being  executed  for  ever. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


63 


Man’s  transgression  is  punished  unto  the  third  and 
fourth  generations ; nay,  I should  add  unto  the  last 
one,  unless  there  be  virtue  sufficient  to  counteract 
the  sin.  Transgression  of  the  physical  or  moral 
laws  of  nature,  committed  knowingly  or  uncon- 
sciously, is  sin,  which  sooner  or  later  must  be  fol- 
lowed by  punishment.  As  moral  and  free  agents, 
our  knowledge  or  ignorance  may  stand  as  our  accuser 
or  pleader,  according  as  the  case  may  be,  in  respect 
to  the  final  destinies  of  our  spiritual  individuality. 
But  to  be  clearer,  sin  and  virtue  liave  both  a phys- 
ical and  a moral  character ; for  any  encroachment 
upon  the  laws  of  inanimate  or  spiritual  nature,  is  sin  ; 
and  observance  of  those  laws  is  virtue.  The  con- 
sequences that  follow  sin  or  virtue,  are  inevitable  and 
continuous ; when  once  set  in  motion,  they  will  go 
on  increasing  to  eternity,  unless  their  opposites  coun- 
teract or  arrest  their  concentric  and  widening  course. 
This  is,  as  I would  express  it,  the  vibrating  action 
of  virtue  and  sin  upon  each  other,  affecting  continu- 
ally the  body  and  the  soul,  for  good  or  for  evil.  You 
perceive,  that  the  words  virtue  and  sin,  as  I use 
them  here,  have  nothing  to  do  with  their  religious 
sense.  We  may  then  unconsciously  transgress  the 
laws  of  matter  and  of  spirit,  and  suffer  punishment 
immediately,  or  more  or  less  remotely,  and  yet  stand 
excused  before  God,  as  moral  and  free  agents  ; but, 
nevertheless,  we  then  have  committed  a sin,  and  its 
consequences  must  be  perpetual,  unless  an  opposite 
virtue  save  us  from  them.  It  is  thus  that  God’s 


64 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


] aws  avenge  themselves ; and  it  is  thus  that  sin  is 
visited  upon  the  third  and  fourth  generation,  -with- 
out determining,  however,  upon  the  destiny  of  the 
innocent  sufferer  for  the  transgressions  of  his  parents. 
This  view  of  our  sinfulness  strengthens  my  belief  in 
the  reality  of  the  original  sin  of  Adam,  and  its  trans- 
mission in  an  increased  ratio  to  his  descendants,  and  in 
the  necessity  of  the  redeeming  virtue  of  Christ,  which, 
quickening  in  us  our  original  element  of  purity,  will 
save  the  race  from  the  inevitable  consequences  of 
transgression. 

It  is  then  absurd  to  say  that  God  takes  our  chil- 
dren away  for  some  special  purpose ; better  confess 
our  sinfulness,  and  blaspheme  not  the  kind  Creator. 
Such  sins  are  continually  committed  in  our  senseless 
matrimonial  connexions.  Very  sinful  people,  or,  in 
other  words,  very  sickly  men  and  women,  are  joined 
in  the  bond  of  union  to  propagate  sin — diseased  chil- 
dren ; and  thus  disease  and  vice  are  made  to  grow 
luxuriantly  in  the  face  of  heaven.  What  could  be 
of  more  importance  for  themselves  and  posterity,  than 
good  health  and  robust  constitution,  in  parties  enter- 
ing into  the  matrimonial  bond?  If  it  cannot  be 
otherwise,  at  least  one  of  them  should  be  healthy ; 
for,  as  good  in  the  end  always  triumphs  over  evil, 
so  it  will  prove  in  this  case,  and  the  children  will 
inherit  more  of  the  qualities  of  the  healthy  than  the 
invalid  parent.  It  is  humiliating  to  confess  that 
parents,  who,  on  all  other  occasions,  interfere  with 
their  children,  are  insensible  to  their  duty  on  this. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


65 


Nay,  they  will  refuse  their  daughter  to  a worthy  and 
healthy  young  man,  because  of  his  poverty,  while  they 
are  ready  to  sell  her  for  a handfull  of  gold,  to  an- 
other, who  is  physically  worthless.  It  is  not  so  easy 
to  remedy  this  evil,  when  children’s  alfections  are 
already  engaged ; but,  however,  if  as  many  of  such 
connexions  be  prevented,  as  there  are  of  those  that 
are  interfered  with,  from  pecuniary  considerations, 
the  race  would  be  abundantly  benefited.  It  is 
strange,  passing  strange,  that  man  has  thought  of 
improving  various  races  of  animals,  and  has  suc- 
ceeded, but  never  thought  of  the  same  for  himself. 
The  same  laws  that  are  applicable  to  the  case  of  ani- 
mals, would  apply  to  him  also.  It  is  even  maintained, 
by  some  prudes  and  the  ignorantly  devout,  that  it  is 
sinful  and  very  indelicate  to  think  or  to  speak  of 
such  a subject.  Remember,  “ to  the  pure  all  is 
pure.”  It  is  because  their  vicious  hearts  cannot 
keep  from  evil,  when  they  are  in  sight  of  it,  that 
they  speak  so.  God  created  our  first  parents  beautiful, 
and  would  have  us  so,  were  it  not  for  our  own  folly. 
Thus  through  prejudice  and  ignorance,  our  children 
are  made  to  suffer  both  physically  and  morally.  It 
is  forgotten,  that  the  vices  of  the  body  modify  more 
or  less  the  character  of  the  soul. 

Now,  my  friend,  I dare  say,  my  letter  has  wearied 
you  somewhat.  But  old  people,  who  have  thought 
and  looked  upon  realities  of  this  world  watchfully, 
speak  with  earnestness  unknown  to  the  young,  on 
those  subjects  that  engage  their  attention.  I know. 


66 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


however,  that  your  philosophical  mind  cannot  be  in- 
different to  the  subjects  in  hand.  Had  you  mounted 
me  on  a different  hobby,  perhaps  I might  prance 
and  caper,  but  this  one  is  too  serious  to  frolic. 
Adieu.  Yours,  &c.” 

The  good  old  gentleman  thought  the  letter  might 
be  wearisome  to  me.  No,  I wish  he  had  written 
more ; and  I hope,  Rudolph,  you  share  this  feeling 
with  me. 

Rud.  Most  certainly.  And  to  give  you  a proof 
of  my  being  tired,  neither  of  the  old  gentleman  nor 
of  his  family,  I repeat  my  request  to  you  to  go  on 
with  your  account  of  the  Stanleys. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Con.  As  we  know  the  tree  by  its  fruits,  so  we 
know  parents  by  their  children ; for  we  may  say 
justly,  that  children  are  but  reflected  rays  of  their 
parents,  modified  only  by  the  reflecting  medium. 
Therefore,  let  us  return  to  the  children,  that  you 
may,  in  the  end,  be  better  acquainted  with  the 
parents.  Helen’s  modesty  wins  the  heart  of  every 
one  who  approaches  her.  It  is  not  that  clownishness 
or  rusticity,  miscalled  by  some,  modesty,  which  is 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


67 


readily  made  to  blush,  and  which  is  seen  in  the 
children  of  the  vulgar ; but  it  is  that  retiring  dispo- 
sition of  the  gentle-hearted  and  well-bred,  that  mis- 
trusts itself  at  first,  but,  when  unavoidably  put  to  trial, 
it  recovers  its  self-possession,  and  triumphantly  turn- 
ing the  blushing  cheeks  into  a charm,  confronts  the 
trespasser  with  dignity.  She  is  gentle  and  obliging 
to  all — she  was  never  known  to  give  offence  to  any 
one,  even  her  mother’s  domestics ; and  yet  she  is 
not  a child  that  may  be  called  listless  or  inert,  and 
consequently  less  prone  to  offend  ; on  the  contrary, 
she  is  full  of  life.  Notwithstanding  her  apparent 
heedlessness,  common  in  childhood,  she  is  very 
considerate  and  compassionate  towards  others  : there 
seems  to  be  not  a particle  of  selfishness  in  her  heart. 
This  must  be  owing  to  the  watchful  eye  of  her 
mother,  who  is  always  ready  to  prune  the  least  tendril 
of  this  desolating  weed  of  the  human  heart.  When 
her  mother  goes  on  errands  of  charity,  among  the 
poor  and  destitute,  she  often  accompanies  her  to  wit- 
ness the  discharge  of  Christian  duties  towards  a 
fellow-being,  that  she  may  learn  how  to  fulfill  them 
in  her  turn.  In  this  way,  her  mother  thinks  the 
heart  of  the  prosperous  may  be  prevented  from  grow- 
ing obdurate.  Young  as  she  is — for  she  is  scarcely 
thirteen — she  studies  decorum  in  every  respect,  with 
the  greatest  attention,  and  yet  it  does  not  render  her 
stiff  and  precise ; she  acts  with  the  discrimination  of 
a grown  person,  but  preserves  her  child-like  sim- 
plicity and  unconsciousness.  When  she  is  in  com- 


68 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


pany,  unlike  many  children,  she  is  watchful  of  the 
comfort  and  pleasures  of  others.  Her  mother’s  ex- 
ample incites  her  to  this  self-sacrifice.  She  often 
hears  her  parents  say,  that  nature  has  not  in  vain 
endowed  woman  with  warmth  of  feeling,  but  that 
it  may  be  a compensating  pleasure  to  her,  for  the 
frequent  sacrifices  of  herself  she  must  make,  on  en- 
tering society.  Thus  early  do  her  parents  incul- 
cate in  her  mind,  that  a selfish,  unkind  woman,  is 
even  more  hideous  than  a man  of  the  same  charac- 
ter. Her  love  of  truth  is  not  less  remarkable  than 
her  other  qualities.  These  are  Helen’s  moral  charms, 
upon  which  her  mother  bases  her  intellectual  culture. 

Cleanliness  and  order,  says  Mrs.  Stanley,  are 
manifestations  of  a good  mind  in  either  man  or  wo- 
man, but  particularly  so  in  the  latter;  and  hence 
she  trains  her  children  to  these  good  habits.  Helen 
is  not  less  commendable  in  this  case  than  her  broth- 
ers and  sister.  She  pursues  the  same  plan  of 
mental  culture  that  Henry  does,  with  which  you  are 
already  acquainted ; for  she  could  not  be  fit  for  the 
company  of  a well-educated  husband,  if  her  informa- 
tion did  not  put  her  on  a level  with  him.  Woman’s 
mind  differs  from  man’s  without  being  inferior  to  it. 
This  difference  is  purposely  established  by  nature, 
that  they' may  be  more  attractive  to  each  other,  and 
mutually  dependent.  Hence  the  same  course  of  in- 
struction answers  for  boys  and  girls,  with  this  modi- 
fication, that  it  need  not  be  carried  so  far  with  the 
latter,  as  with  the  former  ; since  their  situation  in 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


69 


life  does  not  require  it.  The  good  sense  of  Mrs. 
Stanley  can  discover  this  limit  in  Helen’s  case, 
whom  literary  studies  do  not  prevent  from  attending 
to  music,  dancing,  and  needle-work.  In  this  way, 
Mrs.  S.  hopes  to  be  as  successful  with  her  younger 
daughter,  as  she  has  been  with  Isabella,  whose  solid 
accomplishments  fit  her  to  be  the  pattern  of  her  sex. 
Her  personal  charms  are  not  her  only  attractions ; 
her  mind  is  well-stored  with  various  information, 
and  her  heart  overflows  with  lofty  sentiments.  She 
can  converse  sensibly  upon  almost  any  subject ; 
belles-lettres  and  science  are  sufficiently  familiar  to 
her  to  enable  her  to  bear  a respectable  part  in  the 
company  of  even  learned  men.  The  intellectual 
conversation  of  her  parents  and  her  elder  brother, 
furnishes  her  with  succinct  knowledge  of  various 
subjects,  and  gives  her  mind  that  discrimination  and 
elasticity,  which  is  requisite  to  be  able  to  handle 
gracefully  any  topic,  that  may  happen  to  fall  under 
consideration.  Having  a great  desire  for  informa- 
tion, and  an  imagination  sufficiently  vivid  of  itself, 
not  to  need  the  stimulus  of  works  of  fiction,  she 
chiefly  reads  histories,  biographies,  travels,  and  criti- 
cisms on  literature  and  the  fine  arts.  Amidst  her 
literary  and  domestic  pursuits,  she  finds  time  enough 
for  music,  in  which  she  is  quite  an  adept,  as  a per- 
former on  the. harp  and  piano.  Mrs.  Stanley  main- 
tains that  woman’s  destiny  is  to  be  a wife  and  moth- 
er ; and,  consequently,  her  whole  education  should 
be  subservient  to  this  great  purpose  of  nature.  She, 
6 


70 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


who  is  unskilled  in  housekeeping,  ignorant  of  the 
- duties  of  a good  wife,  of  a good  mother,  and  of  a 
kind  mistress,  is  not  fit  to  be  man’s  companion  for 
life,  whatever  her  other  attainments  may  be;  she 
cannot  then  be  the  angel  of  comfort  to  her  house- 
hold. Fortunate  is  Isabella  for  having  so  sen- 
sible a mother,  who,  in  making  her  the  most  accom- 
plished woman,  fitted  her  also  for  the  most  honora- 
ble station  in  society — that  of  a wife  and  mother. 
All  these  external  embellishments  of  woman’s  char- 
acter would  fail  of  their  end,  if  they  were  not  sup>- 
ported  by  Isabella’s  high  moral  qualities.  “ Love,” 
said  Isabella  to  herself,  once ; “ love  is  the  law  of 
the  universe ; woman  was  given  to  man  in  token  of 
love ; woman  then  is  the  incarnation  of  love ; love  is 
the  poetic  element  of  Christianity  ; then  the  love  of 
the  good,  the  beautiful,  and  the  true,  shall  make  the 
poetry  of  my  life.”  Thus,  for  the  first  time,  and,  un- 
consciously, she  spoke  from  the  fullness  of  her  heart. 
Love  has  its  own  laws  of  reasoning,  which,  upon 
the  whole,  are  better  than  the  logician’s;  for,  although 
it  jumps  at  its  conclusions,  without  letting  slow  rea- 
son see  its  intermediate  steps,  it  is  right  in  the  end. 
Isabella  could  easily  come  to  these  conclusions,  for 
love  was  the  sum  total  of  her  character.  She  found, 
however,  that  she  could  not  carry  them  out,  without 
conquering  the  lower  propensities  of  our  nature ; 
and  accordingly  she  put  on  the  girdle  of  defiance  to 
their  power.  Firmness  of  purpose,  (a  result  of  self- 
reliance)  and  amenity  of  manners,  gave  that  finish 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


71 


to  Isabella’s  character,  which,  while  it  endears  her 
more  to  her  parents,  gains  for  her  an  universal  ad- 
miration and  respect.  Zeno’s  parents  were  for  some 
time  kept  in  suspense  as  to  the  turn  his  character 
would  take.  His  strong  passions  and  quick  intel- 
lect, were  fit  materials  to  make  of  him  either  a good 
or  a bad  man.  It  is  not  so  important  to  root  out 
the  bad  passions  of  the  heart,  as  to  subdue  them  by 
cultivating  their  opposite.  Strong  passions,  directed 
by  enlightened  intellect,  enable  man  to  rise  to  great- 
ness. When  under  this  two-fold  influence,  man 
may  be  compared  to  a good  rider,  mounted  on  a 
spirited  horse,  whose  prancings  and  caperings,  the 
more  skillfully  and  gracefully  they  are  subdued,  will 
reflect  the  more  credit  on  his  master.  So  thought 
Mr.  Stanley,  and,  accordingly,  he  thus  moulded  his 
son’s  character,  patiently  waiting  to  see  his  hopes 
realized  in  this  noble  youth.  Zeno  breathes  only 
generous  sentiments,  and  utters  only  truth,  which  is 
the  pole-star  of  his  life.  No  low  motive,  or  aim, 
ever  enters  his  heart.  The  only  failing  I notice  in 
him  is  ambition ; but  yet  it  is  not  low  ambition — it 
is  that  which  Milton  so  beautifully  calls,  “ the  weak- 
ness of  noble  minds.”  Time  and  further  experience 
will  cure  him  of  it.  A mind,  of  his  cast,  will  not 
fail  to  learn  that  the  highest  aim  of  the  wise  and 
good,  should  be  to  fill  the  place  in  which  Providence 
has  chosen  to  put  him,  according  to  the  highest  ide- 
als, A stranger  to  sinister- motives  himself,  he  respects 


72 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


them  not  in  others ; and  his  frankness  is  so  confiding-, 
that  it  disarms  even  duplicity  itself.  Generous  to 
his  enemies,  faithful  to  his  friends,  he  enjoys  the 
greatest  pleasures  of  which  the  human  heart  is  capa- 
ble. To  these  qualities  of  the  heart  Zeno  joins  an 
intellect,  rich  in  its  own  treasures,  and  in  the  spoils 
of  others.  His  learning  is  extensive,  and  his  obser- 
vation multifarious.  At  a German  university,  where 
he  finished  his  education,  he  acquired  that  taste  for 
universal  information,  for  which  the  Germans  are  so 
remarkable,  and  now  he  is  greedy  for  all  knowledge. 
It  is  too  often  the  case  that  our  likings  and  our  sym- 
pathies are  confined  within  the  limits  of  our  village, 
town,  or  country ; it  requires  a mind  and  a heart,  more 
than  common,  to  say,  “ the  world  is  my  country,  and 
the  race  is  my  family.”  Traveling,  though  it  may 
sometimes  contract  narrow  minds  still  more,  gene- 
rally tends  to  enlarge  our  sympathies:  at  least  so 
thinks  Zeno,  who  judges  by  his  own  experience  ac- 
quired in  his  travels.  His  generous  soul  sees  his 
countryman  in  every  upright  man  of  any  clime.  The 
race  has  but  one  heart,  whose  pulsations  may  be 
stronger  or  weaker,  according  to  their  remoteness 
from  the  centre.  National  names  and  boundaries 
are  mere  conventional  barriers,  which  great  minds 
overleap,  in  search  of  universal  communion,  to  be- 
come cosmopolitan  in  heart,  mind,  and  manners. 
Such  is  Zeno  become  already ; his  manners  even  do 
not  betray  any  national  oddities,  so  much  are  they 
polished. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


73 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Collect  now  the  light  of  the  character  of  the  chil- 
dren, and  throw  it  back  upon  their  parents,  in  order 
to  have  a clearer  view  of  them  collectively,  than  I 
can  give  you  singly.  When  a couple  are  happily 
assorted,  they  stand,  in  relation  to  each  other,  like 
two  mirrors  placed  opposite  one  another ; they  reflect 
each  other,  although  they  were  shaped  by  different 
hands.  So,  if  you  look  at  the  wife,  you  see  much 
of  her  husband,  and  if  you  glance  at  the  husband, 
you  behold  much  of  his  wife.  Though  it  may  not 
be  universally  so,  still  it  is  the  case  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stanley.  When  the  sculptor  takes  his  shapeless 
block,  he  toils  hard  to  bring  to  light  his  idea,  which 
lies  hidden  there  in  all  its  beauty.  By  degrees,  he 
lops  off  its  sharp  angles,  he  measures  it,  he  rounds 
it,  he  smoothes  and  polishes  it,  till  the  block  reluct- 
antly yields  up  the  artist’s  conception  in  its  full 
splendor  of  symmetry  and  life.  So  is  it  with  man’s 
character  when  he  seeks,  in  his  nature,  the  ideas  of 
the  beautiful,  the  good,  and  the  true.  There  they 
lie,  overlaid  with  the  dross  of  human  passions ; he 
labors  earnestly  to  free  them,  till,  arriving  at  the 
meridian  of  his  life,  they  blaze  upon  him  in  their 
full  proportions  and  harmony.  So  is  it  with  our 
admirable  couple,  who  lived  toiling  courageously  to 
reach  their  meridian.  They  both  have  arrived  at  a 
6* 


74 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


period  comparatively  quiet,  when  the  turbulence  of 
passions  is  become  subdued,  and  the  stream  of  life 
begins  to  flow  on  smoothly.  Mrs.  Stanley,  whose 
constant  aim  has  been  at  self-government,  and  to 
live  goodness,  truth,  and  beauty,  in  every  act  of  her 
physical,  moral  and  social  life,  has  succeeded  in 
acquiring  an  instinct  for  that,  which  once  required 
an  effort.  Her  Christian  virtues  are  felt  by  her 
family-circle,  friends,  neighbors  and  enemies : for 
she  is  a rationally  loving  mother,  and  a kind  and 
considerate  mistress;  she  is  faithful  to  her  friends, 
pleasant  to  her  neighbors,  and  forgiving  to  her  ene- 
mies. Love  and  piety  are  the  most  precious  jewels 
that  adorn  her  soul.  Religious  as  she  is,  she  is  not  a 
bigot ; she  does  not  condemn,  nor  withdraw  from  the 
world,  as  an  ignorant  religionist  would  do;  she  lives 
in  the  midst  of  it  to  redeem  it;  the  mild  and  winning 
light  of  her  virtues,  draw  unto  her  even  the  wicked. 
To  little  minds,  conceited  in  piety,  it  would  appear 
incomprehensible  that  she  can  be  a truly  devout  and 
fashionable  woman  at  the  same  time  ; nevertheless 
she  is  so.  But  fashion,  with  her,  means  not  what 
it  does  with  fashionable  fools.  Being  fashionable 
means,  with  her,  being  the  most  refined  in  feeling, 
the  most  polished  in  manners,  the  most  intellectual, 
the  most  rational,  and  the  most  tasteful,  joined  to  the 
capacity  of  giving  to,  and  receiving  from  others, 
innocent  pleasures.  F ashion,  then,  in  her  dictionary, 
means  a structure  of  what  is  pleasing,  raised  upon 
the  broad  basis  of  rationality.  There  is  then  no 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


75 


foppery,  no  charlatanry.  In  this  sense,  Mrs.  Stan- 
ley is  eminently  fashionable.  Without  constituting 
herself  the  leader  of  fashion,  the  would-be  fashion- 
ables are  glad  to  recognize  her  as  such.  On  this, 
as  on  other  occasions,  imbecility  is  delighted  to 
creep  under  the  wings  of  superiority.  She  never 
cares  what  Mrs.  Stupidity,  Mrs.  Silliness,  or  Mrs. 
Upstart  would  say  of  her  conduct.  She  says,  if  you 
have  good  sense,  good  taste,  and  self-respect,  you 
will,  without  needlessly  offending  others,  walk  your 
own  path,  indifferent  whether  you  are  followed  or 
not ; and  if  you  join  to  these  qualities  a little  amia- 
bility, you  will  soon  have  many,  both  apes  and  men, 
in  your  wake.  This  is  the  only  creditable  way  of 
leading  the  fashion.  Her  rich  mind,  familiar  with 
books  and  men,  can  gracefully  lavish  its  treasures 
without  ostentation.  Indeed  it  may  be  said,  that 
literature  adorns  her,  like  a graceful  flowing  drapery, 
charming  even  the  most  fastidious.  She  is  in  the  habit 
of  repeating  to  her  daughters,  that  what  is  worth 
having  in  a single  woman  while  young,  is  worth 
retaining  when  she  is  married  and  grows  old ; and 
she  lives  up  to  this  truth.  In  her  external  accom- 
plishments, she  may  be  said  to  rival  her  daughters. 
She  is  as  fascinating  in  her  manners,  kind  and 
pleasing,  as  a young  woman  should  be ; she  dances, 
sings,  and  plays  on  the  piano,  as  she  ever  did,  and 
she  is  as  gay  and  lively  as  her  dignity  permits.  She 
does  not  think,  that  young  women  should  be  trained 
only  to  get  a husband,  but  that  the  woman  may  be 


76 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


an  ornament  to  society  her  whole  lifetime.  Many 
would  say,  it  is  impossible,  but  she  finds  it  possible, 
even  without  neglecting  her  family  duties  in  the- 
least.  Indolent  and  slothful  women,  says  she,  sink 
into  torpidity  soon  after  marriage,  and  reap  neglect 
if  not  contempt  as  their  wages  ; but  the  active  find 
their  life,  health,  pleasure  and  beauty  only  in  activity- 
Be  ever  willing  to  sacrifice,  she  would  often  say, 
your  precious  little  self;  you  must  please  others,  and 
then  you  will  be  pleased  in  your  turn.  She  smiles 
at  the  simplicity,  or  rather  simple  rusticity,  of  those, 
who  think  that  women  advanced  in  age  are  not  fit 
for  society  ; aged  women,  when  well-bred  and  ac- 
complished, are  the  very  persons  that  society  needs, 
that  they  may  be  guides  to  the  young,  and  give  a 
certain  dignity  to  social  intercourse.  Besides,  this 
is  the  way  for  them  to  keep  themselves  from  growing 
old  and  rusty. 

Such  is  the  woman  whom  Mr.  Stanley  is  happy 
to  call  his  wife,  and  whose  fidelity  and  respect  he 
well  merits,  by  his  superior  qualities.  At  his  age, 
pride  and  conceit,  and  respectably-clothed  selfishness, 
are  apt  to  luxuriate  in  man’s  heart,  when  it  is  gov- 
erned by  a shallow  head.  This  is  not  the  case  with 
Mr.  Stanley ; generosity,  love  of  truth  and  justice, 
are  his  prominent  characteristics.  He  to  whom  life 
appears  a serious  comedy,  could  not  but  learn,  that 
the  highest  wisdom  finds  permanency  only  in  virtue, 
and  pleasure  only  in  the  pursuit  of  truth,  while  all 
else  is  fleeting  and  unreal.  Having  a heart  and 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


I / 

head  fit  for  noble  deeds,  and  lacking  no  worldly 
means  to  execute  them,  he,  if  I may  so  speak,  in- 
dulges in  virtue  with  an  Epicurean  taste.  The 
vulgar  are  content  with  grosser  virtues,  because  they 
think  the  law  is  thus  complied  with ; but  they  care 
not  for  the  finer  ones,  because  they  are  not  plainly 
pointed  out  in  their  moral  code.  But  Mr.  Stanley, 
whose  soul  is  pure,  and  full  of  sensibility  and  refine- 
ment, without  neglecting  the  grosser  virtues,  is  stu- 
dious of  the  finer  ones  also.  If  he  know  that  he 
can  do  a kind  office  to  another,  he  does  it  without 
delay  : and,  at  the  same  time,  he  considers  the  person 
he  is  to  oblige,  the  kind  of  service  he  is  to  render, 
and  the  best  manner  of  doing  it ; so  that  he  does  it 
in  the  most  acceptable  way  to  one’s  feelings  ; unlike 
the  vulgar,  who,  while  they  mean  to  benefit  another, 
are  careful  to  flatter  their  own  selfishness.  Indeed, 
one  would  sooner  take  him  for  the  party  receiving, 
than  for  the  party  conferring  a favor,  so  gracefully 
does  he  do  it.  He  never  talks  of  man’s  ungrateful- 
ness, for  he  never  desires  gratitude ; yet,  if  he 
receive  a favor,  he  is  anxious  to  repay  it  two-fold. 
His  hospitality,  if  compared  with  what  is  commonly 
called  so,  would  prove  the  latter  to  be  mere  mock- 
ery ; for  his  is  lavish  without  being  inconsiderate. 
He  observed  once,  that  if  he  knew  that  the  generous 
heart  of  a Turk  could  outdo  him  in  hospitality,  as  a 
Christian,  he  would  be  exceedingly  ashamed ; but, 
he  continued,  if  my  means  cannot,  my  heart  is  willing 


78 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


to  compete  even  with  the  Turk’s  generosity.  Not 
many  Christians  can  say  as  much.  His  hospitality, 
however,  is  neither  ostentatious  nor  troublesome  to 
the  recipient ; it  is  so  gracefully  offered,  that  one 
cannot  help  thinking  it  sincere  and  enjoying  it  the 
more.  His  friendship  is  as  faithful,  and  his  word  as 
sacred,  as  that  of  an  Osmanli.  Of  friendship,  he 
says,  that  it  is  a heavenly  favor  granted  only  to  the 
pure,  as  a foretaste  of  the  enjoyments  in  the  world 
to  come.  His  benevolence  is  not  less  noticeable 
than  his  other  qualities ; he  seeks  objects  for  its 
gratification,  amongst  those  who,  although  thought 
by  the  world  to  be  above  want,  actually  are  not. 
To  do  a good  act  in  private,  is  nobler  than  to  do  it 
in  public.  The  only  power  to  be  envied,  is  that  of 
dispensing  favors ; for  then  man  is  placed  above  his 
fellow-beings,  as  a vicegerent  of  the  Almighty  him- 
self; but  how  few  discharge  this  responsible  office 
as  worthily  as  Mr.  Stanley  does ! To  these  noble 
qualities  of  the  heart,  he  joins  a profound  intellect, 
rich  in  various  learning.  To  him  life  would  be 
worthless,  if  he  could  not  engage  in  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge.  He  never  means  to  keep  his  mind  sta- 
tionary ; it  is  always  open  to  new  as  well  as  to  old 
truths.  He  is  always  to  be  found  in  the  current  of 
progress ; not  carried  away,  however,  but  guiding 
himself.  The  literature  of  other  languages  is  almost 
as  familiar  to  him  as  that  of  his  own.  Literature  is 
the  prism  of  a nation’s  character,  as  style  often  is  of 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


79 


a writer’s.  He,  who  desires  to  study  humanity,  must 
not  confine  himself  to  the  letters  of  one  nation  ex- 
clusively. These  are  Mr.  Stanley’s  sentiments  to 
which  he  strictly  adheres ; and  with  which  I cannot 
hut  sympathize.  Notwithstanding  his  extensive  in- 
formation, he  is  not  a pedant ; he  is  as  humble  as 
he  who  said,  “ I know  but  one  thing,  that  I know 
nothing.” 

Knowledge  and  a well-meaning  heart,  singly  or 
combined,  cannot  give  man  a title  to  the  highest  de- 
gree of  superiority,  unless  they  are  accompanied  by 
refined  habits  and  manners.  A learned  clown  (for 
there  is  such  a class  of  men)  disgraces  knowledge; 
and  a good-hearted  one  makes  unpalatable  what 
should  be  the  most  pleasant  in  human  nature.  Aware 
of  this  truth,  Mr.  Stanley  never  loses  sight  of  refined 
habits  and  polished  manners ; on  the  contrary,  he  is 
scrupulously  attentive  to  both,  without  falling  into 
either  mannerism  or  insipidity.  He  never  would 
allow  himself,  even  on  the  score  of  age,  as  some  do,  a 
little  indulgence  in  vulgar  manners,  such  an  aversion 
has  he  to  whatever  is  low.  As  he  cultivates  cheer- 
fulness, and  takes  an  interest  in  the  joys  and  sorrows 
of  the  young,  his  company  is  both  instructive  and 
pleasant  to  them ; and  many  are  proud  of  the  honor 
of  his  friendship. 


80 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Such  is  the  man  for  whom  alone  Mrs.  Stanley 
lives ; and  what  generous  woman  would  not  ? He  is 
like  a noble  oak,  shooting  towards  the  skies,  that 
courageously  weathers  the  storms  passing  over  its 
head  ; and  she  like  the  ivy,  that  embraces  and  twines 
around  it,  committing  its  life  and  destiny  to  its  trusty 
companion.  Such  is  their  bond  of  matrimony.  To 
me,  they  are  the  picture  of  true  humanity ; such  as 
God  designed — each  distinct,  and  yet,  two  in  one. 
What  a pity  that  this  spectacle  is  so  uncommon ! 
How  much  the  sum  of  human  happiness  would  be 
increased  ! He  who  has  looked  through  the  veil  of 
matrimonial  life,  and  has  seen  its  internal  arrange- 
ments, to  his  nstonislnnent  and  sorrow  is  forced  to 
believe,  with  Dr.  Johnson,  who  somewhere  says,  that 
if  the  Lord  Chancellor  were  permitted  to  select  part- 
ners for  the  matrimonial  state,  he  would  make  a bet- 
ter choice  for  the  parties  than  they  do  themselves. 
Were  it  not  for  the  freedom  of  choice  alone,  many, 

I dare  say,  would  be  in  favor  of  such  an  arrangement ; 
for  there  would  be  one  consolation  at  least ; they  ~ 
could  then  wreak  their  disappointment  on  the  heads 
of  others.  What  a grief  must  his  be,  who,  on  mar- 
rying, sees  his  poetic  visions  of  conjugal  happiness 
disappear  from  the  horizon  of  his  life,  like  the  mi- 
rage of  the  desert  before  the  eyes  of  the  thirsty  trav- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


81 


eler.  Bound  by  his  vow,  he  is  to  stand  the  storm 
of  all  the  furies,  that  a malicious  woman  can  send 
upon  him.  He  is  houseless,  for  he  must  fly  his  home ; 
he  is  friendless,  for  he  cannot  conscientiously  look 
for  another ; his  life  is  bleak  and  desolate  as  the  sea- 
coast  of  Greenland,  and  often  he  plunges  into  vices, 
just  to  forget  his  disappointment.  No  better  is  the 
lot  of  a woman,  whose  fortunes  may  happen  to  be 
bound  to  a brute  of  a man.  Her  tender  heart  finds 
no  reciprocal  feeling ; her  fine  mind  receives  no 
sympathy ; her  noble  aspirations  meet  but  with  the 
chilling  blast  of  low  propensities ; thus  her  budding 
hopes  fall  to  the  ground,  like  flowers  touched  by  the 
frost,  and  she  pines  in  silence. 

The  more  one  is  given  to  such  considerations,  the 
less  prone  he  will  be  to  hasten  into  the  matrimonial 
bonds.  Yet  it  should  not  be  so.  It  is  not  good  for 
man  to  live  alone,  for  he  does  not  thus  fulfill  nature’s 
purposes.  Humanity  is  not  complete  in  him,  till  he 
takes  to  himself  its  complement — woman.  Then 
they  both  put  themselves  under  the  opposing  influ- 
ence of  their  respective  feelings,  and,  acting  upon 
each  other  mutually,  and  thus  modifying  each  other’s 
characters,  they  attain  complete  humanity.  But  if 
the  parties  be  ill-adapted  to  each  other,  humanity  is 
then  deformed.  In  married  life  there  are  influences 
which,  giving  more  varied  direction  to  human  feel- 
ings, expand  and  mellow  them ; and  thus  the  char- 
acter of  man  and  woman  is  more  developed  when 
married  than  when  single.  Even  selfishness,  the 
7 


82 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


most  narrow  of  all  feelings,  must  then  relax,  and 
embrace  more  than  one  person ; while  in  single  life, 
it  would  rest  concentrated  upon  self.  To  the  pure 
heart,  marriage  opens  life — lasting  springs  of  inno- 
cent love ; to  the  wicked  even  it  may  sweeten  some- 
what the  bitter  waters  of  life.  He,  who  feels  the 
glow  of  pure  love,  paints  to  himself  matrimony  as  a 
state  of  unchangeable  bliss ; and  if  he  be  happy  in 
his  choice,  he  may  find  it  so ; it  is  better,  however, 
sweet  as  the  dreams  may  be,  to  curb  the  imagina- 
tion by  reason,  in  order  to  save  one’s  self  the  pains 
of  disappointment.  The  best  way  of  securing  matri- 
monial happiness,  would  be  to  ascertain  first,  if  the 
parties  concerned  can  be  friends  to  each  other. 
Love,  resting  on  the  qualities  necessary  for  friend- 
ship, would  be  enduring;  and  in  case  it  should  cool 
down,  there  would  be  still  enough  requisites  left  for 
a happy  union.  There  would  be  mutual  respect,  if 
not  a perfect  harmony  of  opinion,  at  least  a good- 
natured  tolerance,  conciliating  deportment,  and  the 
spirit  of  mutual  concession;  these  are  sufficient  re- 
quisites to  make  one’s  matrimonial  condition,  if  not 
happy,  at  least  pleasant.  Contrast  married  life  with 
single.  In  the  latter,  man,  while  young,  finds  com- 
panions and  friends,  who  are  willing  to  be  so,  as 
long  as  their  pursuits  are  equally  aimless  as  his; 
but  as  he  grows  old,  he  sees  them  drop  away  from 
him,  one  by  one,  till  burdened  with  the  weight  of 
age,  he  stands  solitary  and  alone,  casting  his  glance 
around,  and  meeting  no  sympathizing  eye ; in  the 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


83 


midst  of  the  world,  yet  not  of  it,  he  goes  a cheerless 
shadow  to  the  grave ; for  his  name  dies  long  before 
his  body.  Not  so  when  he  is  married.  His  children 
stand  as  a connecting  link  between  him  and  the 
world,  and  through  them  he  is  interested  in  it.  But 
even  if  the  world  forsake  him,  there  are  sympathies 
for  him  in  the  bosom  of  his  own  family,  which  will 
cheer  his  old  age.  It  is  sympathy  that  the  human 
heart  craves  most;  in  that  it  finds  its  life  and  happi- 
ness; without  it  all  is  desolation.  Sympathy  is  the 
chain  that  binds  society  together ; it  is  the  moral 
gravitation  of  the  world.  But  sympathy  has  its  elec- 
tive affinities,  which,  in  marriage,  must  be  obeyed, 
to  insure  the  happiness  of  the  parties  concerned. 
Pure  hearts  only  can  understand  these  affinities, 
although  language  is  inadequate  to  express  them. 
They  are  perhaps  those  indefinite  yearnings,  which 
the  heart  feels  at  times,  and  which  seem  to  consti- 
tute a particular  instinct  in  woman,  making  her  to 
pronounce  intuitively  upon  the  fitness  of  their  object. 
Perhaps  it  is  under  the  influence  of  these  yearn- 
ings that  Mrs.  Stanley,  whom  we  have  for  a while 
left  out  of  sight,  has  chosen  her  worthy  companion ; 
for  so  happy  a choice  could  only  be  made  by  some 
unerring  guide.  There  is  in  their  intercourse  such 
a respect  and  considerateness  for  each  other,  com- 
bined with  affection,  such  a spirit  of  self-sacrifice 
and  yielding,  with  perfect  equality  and  freedom,  that, 
while  it  serves  me  as  the  best  living  example  of  con- 
jugal happiness,  it  opens  my  eyes  to  the  true  relation 


84 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


of  man  and  woman  to  each  other.  There  are  no 
petty  jealousies  between  them,  no  spite,  no  wilful- 
ness and  obstinacy.  Generous  trust  in  each  other 
is  the  impulse,  reason  is  the  light,  harmony  is  the 
law  of  their  life  What  is  more  remarkable  in  their 
case  is,  that,  fascinating  as  they  are,  they  can  lead  a 
life  of  domestic  peace  and  mutual  understanding, 
surrounded  by  a seductive  and  intriguing  world. 
Jealousy,  says  Mr.  Stanley,  is  an  evidence  of  little- 
ness at  all  times;  but,  in  married  life,  it  is  more,  it 
is  an  absolute  folly ; for  it  allies  itself  with  our  ene- 
mies, to  destroy  our  peace  and  happiness.  If  one  is 
unfaithful,  it  is  better  for  the  other  not  to  know  it ; 
for  it  is  not  the  time  to  make  him  or  her  better,  and, 
consequently,  there  is  no  hope  of  quiet ; ignorance, 
then,  in  this  case,  is  preferable  to  knowledge.  But 
if  the  suspicions  be  groundless,  it  is  then  a poignant 
insult  otfered  to  innocence,  which  cannot  be  easily 
forgotten,  and  which  recoils  upon  the  offender  liim- 
self,  if  he  be  a generous  soul ; in  either  case,  the 
suffering  is  great  and  useless.  He,  who  whispers 
mistrust  into  the  ear  of  a husband  or  w'ife,  is  their 
greatest  enemy. 

Rud.  Pardon  me,  but  I must  interrupt  you,  Con- 
rad. You  will  resume  your  subject;  but,  inform  me 
first,  what  are  your  notions  of  the  true  relation  of 
man  and  woman  to  each  other,  at  which  you  have 
just  hinted. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


85 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Con.  I am  for  freeing  myself  from  the  trammels 
of  all  custom  and  rusty  prejudices.  I wish  to  look 
at  things  as  they  are  in  themselves,  and  then  abide 
by  the  result.  In  the  same  spirit  I consider  the 
question  of  the  true  relation  of  man  and  woman  to 
each  other.  The  only  wise  course  is,  in  this,  as  on 
all  occasions,  to  follow  nature’s  decrees.  We  must 
observe  what  end  nature  proposes  to  herself,  and 
how  she  attains  it.  There  were  times  when  grave 
doctors  wTote  learned  treatises  upon  the  ques- 
tion, “ Whether  woman  has  a soul some  said,  yes, 
some  said,  no.  I doubt  whether  those  who  ques- 
tioned it,  had  one  themselves.  But  let  that  pass. 
I can  safely  assert,  that  man  and  woman  were  cre- 
ated for  each  other.  Hence  it  follows,  that  there 
must  be  a certain  mutual  adaptation  in  them,  modi- 
fying their  respective  characters.  There  must  be 
then  a moral  and  physical  difference  between  them, 
yet  implying  no  contradiction.  Difference  does 
not  always  mean  inferiority ; it  is  consistent  with 
equality.  The  fleet,  black-eyed  gazel  is  not  inferior 
to  the  noble  lion,  although  they  are  unlike.  Both 
man  and  woman  have  their  peculiarities,  advantages 
and  disadvantages,  which,  equalizing  their  charac- 
ters, put  them  precisely  on  a level.  Though  man  is 
strong  and  courageous,  and  woman  weak  and  timid, 
7* 


86 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


her  tact  makes  up  for  this  advantage,  and  Samson 
lies  powerless  at  the  feet  of  Delilah.  If  man’s  in- 
tellect appear  greater  in  some  respects,  his  heart  is 
smaller  than  woman’s ; man  is  more  selfish,  woman 
more  loving.  If  he  pride  himself  on  his  reasoning 
powers,  she  may  on  her  poetic  susceptibilities ; for 
her  imagination  is  more  lively,  and  her  sensibility 
more  acute  than  man’s.  I need  not  run  out  the  par- 
allel of  their  characters.  I have  done  it  sufficiently 
for  my  purpose ; you  may  continue  it  yourself,  if  you 
please.  Suffice  it  to  say,  in  conclusion,  that  man 
discourses  more  wisely,  but  he  lives  more  foolishly ; 
woman  talks  less  profoundly,  but  lives  more  wisely ; 
for  he  is  more  fit  to  instruct  in  wisdom  than  in  vir- 
tue, and  she  is  more  able  to  teach  the  latter  than  the 
former.  Thus  they  are  brought  to  the  same  level. 
This  difference  and  this  equality  necessarily  are  in 
harmony  with  the  designed  peculiarities  of  the  two 
sexes. 

Having  conducted  you  thus  far,  you  will  perceive 
my  reasons  for  asserting  that  man  and  woman  are 
born  free  and  equal,  although  to  some  extent  depend- 
ent on  each  other.  This  is  the  fundamental  point 
from  which  we  are  to  start  to  ascertain  their  true  re- 
lation to  each  other.  Keeping  this  in  view,  we  may 
arrive  at  the  very  extremes  of  their  relation  without 
ever  coming  to  clashing  results ; we  shall  see  that  a 
wheel  works  harmoniously  within  a wheel,  and  the 
whole  social  machine  moves  in  uniform  circles.  I 
do  not  mean  that  this  is  the  case  with  society  as  it  is 
at  present,  but  that  it  would  be  so,  were  it  as  it 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


87 


should  be.  The  Creator  assigned  to  humanity  cer- 
tain duties  which  cannot  be  performed  by  man  or 
woman  singly ; hence  follows  an  equal  distribution 
of  them  according  to  the  respective  capacities  of  the 
sexes.  He  also  bestowed  certain  privileges  upon  both 
man  and  woman.  It  must  be  remembered  that  they 
cannot  perform  their  duties  if  they  be  in  each  other’s 
way  ; and  that  tbe  fulfillment  of  them  is  to  constitute 
their  happiness.  Both  man  and  woman  are  eager  to 
possess  themselves  of  as  many  privileges  as  possible, 
at  each  other’s  expense ; and  neither  is  willing  to 
acquiesce  in  the  social  duties  that  devolve  on  the 
other.  In  this  strife  the  stronger  may  have  perma- 
nently the  victory ; but,  however,  nothing  prevents 
his  being  now  and  then  duped  by  the  cunning  of  the 
weaker.  Thus  neither  of  the  parties  are  better  for 
the  strife  and  the  neglect  of  their  duties.  This  is 
precisely  the  condition  in  which  society  appears  to 
me  to  have  been  until  now.  How  long  it  will  con- 
tinue so,  I am  unable  to  say.  Neither  man  nor 
woman  have  done  their  duty;  neither,  then,  has  a 
right  to  happiness ; to  strive  to  attain  the  latter  by 
avoiding  the  former  is  preposterous.  Nature  is  an 
impartial  mother ; she  impartially  distributes  her 
favors  to  the  least  of  her  children  that  obey  her.  The 
sum  of  the  duties  and  the  privileges  of  one  sex  is 
equal  to  that  of  the  other ; for  all  this  is  adjusted 
according  to  the  capacity  and  special  destiny  of  an 
individual.  Compensation  is  the  rule  of  nature. 
But  if  we  do  not  receive  our  share  of  it,  it  is  then  our 


88 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


own  fault,  not  nature’s.  That  man,  in  the  present 
state  of  society,  arrogates  to  himself  too  many  im- 
munities, and  that  woman  is  wronged,  cannot  be 
questioned ; nor  can  it  be  doubted  that  woman  is 
disposed  to  do  the  same  as  far  as  she  can,  and  that 
she  does  not  aim  at  being  what  she  should  be. 
Woman  is  yet  neither  a good  wife  nor  a good  mo- 
ther. I do  not  measure  her  goodness  by  the  caresses 
she  bestows  upon  her  husband,  nor  by  the  quantity 
of  sugar-plumbs  she  gives  to  her  children.  If  she  be 
not  what  sha  should  be,  man  is,  perhaps,  more 
to  be  blamed  than  she ; the  bad  example  he  sets 
may  excuse  her  in  a measure.  Covetous  of  power, 
they  thrust  themselves  in  each  other’s  sphere,  and 
then  raise  complaints  of  encroachment.  To  prevent 
this  and  ensure  harmony,  both  parties  must  be  gen- 
erous towards  each  other,  both  unwilling  that  one 
should  have  more  social  burdens  to  bear  than  the 
other ; then  social  duties  and  privileges  will  be  dis- 
tributed to  their  mutual  satisfaction.  Where  strength, 
courage  and  intellectual  activity  are  necessary,  there 
is  the  place  for  man;  where  the  exercise  of  the 
affections  and  of  patient  endurance  is  required,  there 
woman  is  wanted.  Thus  may  be  characterized  those 
social  duties,  which  the  sexes  have  not  in  common ; 
and  each  is  the  sphere  which  nature  respectively  as- 
signs to  each  sex,  in  consideration  of  woman’s  being 
destined  to  be  a mother. 

That  women  begin  to  feel  the  harshness  of  man’s 
rule,  the  increasing  number  of  the  defenders  of  wo- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


89 


man’s  rights,  sufficiently  indicates.  But  these  de- 
fenders, in  anxiety  for  their  cause,  would  step  out 
of  their  sphere.  They  feel  the  evil,  but,  it  seems  to 
me,  are  unable  to  define  it;  and,  in  removing  one, 
they  would  bring  on  another.  Women,  now,  are 
children,  but  the  advocates  of  their  rights  would 
make  them  viragos.  I,  for  one,  should  prefer  to 
suffer  the  petulance  of  children,  to  the  insolence 
of  braggadocios.  And  this  would  be  the  conse- 
quence, if  women  should  enter  the  list  of  market- 
men,  politicians  and  horse-jockeys.  In  this  condition, 
women  would  unavoidably  neglect  some  social  duties, 
which  man  could  not  perform,  and  the  omission  of 
which  would  make  society  suffer.  Man  has  dealt 
unjustly  by  woman ; he  has  made  her  a child,  that 
he  may  have  a little  brief  authority  over  her.  He 
has  not  treated  her  as  a rational  being.  He  sur- 
rounds ber  with  gewgaws  and  shows,  and  occupies 
her  mind  with  frivolities  to  keep  her  little,  that  his 
own  littleness  may  appear  to  better  advantage.  There 
are  in  society  certain  notions  afloat  by  which  the 
public  presume  to  judge  what  is  feminine  and  what 
is  not;  notions  which  the  mere  force  of  prejudice 
and  custom  sustain.  Woe  to  the  woman  who  dares 
to  brave  them ! If  man  seldom  have  the  courage  to 
face  public  opinion,  though  in  a good  cause,  much 
less  will  woman.  Folly  will,  in  the  end,  bring  pun- 
ishment in  its  train ; and  so  man,  injuring  woman 
for  the  supposed  advantages  he  would  reap,  has  in- 
jured himself.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  hear  man 


90 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


say,  “ I prefer  an  inferior  woman,  to  a superior  one, 
for  my  wife.”  It  is  the  most  positive  confession  of 
his  own  littleness.  I am  ashamed  for  my  own  sex. 
A truly  superior  woman,  will  raise  a man  without 
letting  him  feel  it ; a silly  one,  will  goad  him  with 
his  inferiority  every  instant.  A man,  who  knows  his 
own  worth,  should  not  be  ashamed  to  acknowledge 
woman’s  superiority,  if  she  be  superior ; for  by  so 
doing  he  elevates  himself  Do  we  not  degrade  hu- 
manity  when,  instead  of  raising  the  inferior  part  of 
it,  we  bring  down  the  superior  to  the  same  level ; 
and  thus  in  place  of  at  least  one  helper,  we  make 
them  both  low  ? He,  who  has  once  tasted  the  pleas- 
ure of  the  society  of  the  equal  and  gifted,  cannot 
long  for  that  of  his  inferiors.  Woman  should  be 
made  free  and  equal  to  man ; and  reciprocal  gener- 
osity should  be  the  measure  of  their  respective 
deserts.  To  restrict  her  within  narrower  bounds 
than  nature  points  out,  is  doing  an  injustice  both  to 
her  and  ourselves.  I cannot  conceive  of  a situation 
in  which  she  can  lose  her  worth,  if  she  knows  how 
to  preserve  her  dignity  and  act  in  a proper  spirit. 
It  is  spirit  that  shapes  matter,  that  gives  life  and 
meaning  to  all  things.  Let  woman,  then,  be  guided 
but  by  a right  spirit,  and  all  that  she  may  do,  will 
become  her,  and  be  right.  We  must  remember  that 
the  soul  of  things  lies  always  beneath  their  surface; 
to  that  soul  only  must  we  look.  If  not  man’s  gen- 
erosity, the  interest  of  humanity  rightly  understood, 
should  make  him  anxious  that  woman  should  enjoy 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


91 


equal  rights  and  freedom,  and  that  she  should  not 
be  made  so  dependent  on  him  as  she  is  now.  By 
this  I mean,  that  when  man  acts  in  his  sphere  alone, 
he  should  consider  himself  as  the  representative  of 
complete  humanity ; that  he  should  not  enact  laws, 
authorize  practices,  or  propound  opinions  injurious 
to  woman;  for  her  interest  is  his.  Nature  has  not 
made  her  man’s  rival,  but  a copartner  of  the  same 
interest.  Let  her  be  free,  unshackled  by  irrational 
customs, habits  and  opinions, and  she  will  find  her  sphere 
within  her  instinct  as  a mother,  and  trust  to  man  for 
the  rest.  This  is  the  only  condition  by  which  nature 
limits  her  physical  and  moral  capacities.  The  far- 
ther she  removes  from  this  condition,  the  nearer  she 
approaches  man’s  qualities.  Woman,  as  a mother, 
will  find  that  she  cannot  spend  her  life-energies  in 
violent  physical  or  mental  efforts  as  man  does,  with- 
out bringing  serious  consequences  upon  herself  and 
her  offspring ; and  she  will  also  learn,  that  slothful- 
ness, be  it  physical  or  mental,  will  likewise  draw 
upon  her  its  evils.  To  know  then  whether  woman’s 
conduct  is  within  her  sphere  or  not,  we  must  consider 
its  bearing  upon  her  as  a mother,  both  in  a physical 
and  moral  sense ; whether  it  be  ruinous  to  her  ener- 
gies of  life  or  not.  This  is  the  only  way  man  is 
allowed  to  measure  her  liberty,  and  ascertain  and 
enforce  her  duties.  Of  this  important  truth,  both 
the  defenders  of  her  rights,  and  the  public,  are  heed- 
less ; and  so  both  talk  to  no  purpose. 

Rud.  How  often  do  we  pass  carelessly  by  things 


92 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


that  are  full  of  meaning ! I might  have  seen  this 
subject  in  the  same  light  you  do,  had  I but  reflected. 
Henceforth  my  motto  shall  be,  “ Look,  strain  your 
eyes  to  see,  be  they  ever  so  imperfect,  for  time  and 
your  effort  shall  strengthen  them ; mistrust  your 
sight  that  you  may  be  induced  to  return  once  more 
upon  your  path,  and  with  each  day  your  perception 
shall  grow  keener.”  We  all  have  eyes  to  see  and 
ears  to  hear,  yet  how  few  do  either ! And  all  this 
on  account  of  our  sluggishness,  or  for  want  of  inter- 
nal effort,  to  rouse  and  direct  our  mental  energies. 
I have  always  opposed  the  notions  that  people  com- 
monly have,  of  what  is  woman’s  sphere,  for  I thought 
them  arbitrary ; but  I could  not  sustain  my  position 
by  a satisfactory  argument,  which  I ascribe  to  my 
carelessness  of  observation  rather  than  to  want  of 
ability.  Now,  when  you  present  me  the  subject  in  ques- 
tion in  its  true  light,  I am  able  to  see  the  whole  bearing 
of  your  assertions.  I could  make  each  of  your  ideas, 
just  expressed,  a text  to  dilate  upon,  so  full  of 
meaning  is  your  concise  view  of  the  matter  in  hand. 
I am  delighted  to  see  that  you  support  your  position 
by  the  physiological  truth  of  the  mode  of  which 
nature  makes  use,  in  the  distribution  of  the  energies 
of  life.  Now,  if  you  please,  proceed  with  your 
account  of  the  Stanleys.  If  you  have  nothing  more 
to  say  upon  their  individual  character,  I should  like 
to  take  a glance  at  their  domestic  concerns.  hat 
manner  of  beauty  does  their  domestic  life  present  ? 
This  is  the  touch-stone  that  tries  man’s  worth. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


93 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Con.  I have  been  fortunate  enough  to  spend  a 
few  weeks  of  a summer  at  Mr.  Stanley’s ; so  I feel 
able  to  give  you  a tolerably  correct  sketch  of  their 
domestic  enjoyments.  He  who  so  earnestly  seeks 
the  true,  the  good,  and  the  beautiful,  in  every  step  of 
his  life,  as  Mr.  Stanley  does,  cannot  but  carry  the 
same  spirit  even  into  the  least  of  his  family  arrange- 
ments. Knowing  him,  you  will  perceive  the  har- 
mony there  is  between  him  and  the  things  with 
which  he  surrounds  himself:  all  is  but  a projection 
of  his  own  mind.  To  triflers  all  is  trifling;  but  to 
the  earnest,  even  the  trifles  of  human  life  have  their 
relative  importance.  Of  what  account  is  life  to  a 
thinking  man,  if  it  be  not  all  of  his  own  substance ; 
if  he  must  live  other  people’s  forms,  unintelligible  to 
him?  Certainly  Mr.  Stanley  would  not  be  the  one 
to  be  pleased  with  such  a lot ; he  whose  constant 
purpose  is  to  write  down  his  thoughts  in  living  deeds. 
His  moral  courage  and  worldly  means,  put  him 
above  the  reach  of  ever-meddling  public  opinion, 
which  he  is  in  the  habit  of  comparing  to  a quarrel- 
some old  woman,  who  is  displeased  with  every  thing 
that  does  not  square  with  her  notions.  He  is  not, 
however,  more  odd  than  reality  is  in  the  eyes  of 
the  sham,  and  beauty  in  the  sight  of  ugliness.  To 
live  within  his  means,  but  not  to  use  them  exclusive- 
8 


94 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


ly  for  his  own  benefit,  is  the  rule  of  Mr.  Stanley’s 
life.  If  we  have  an  eye  for  it,  we  shall  see  that  all 
things  around  us,  some  more,  some  less,  teem  with 
moral  influence,  the  guage  of  which  is  good  taste. 
He  who  exerts  his  taste  to  concentrate  this  influence, 
as  far  as  it  lies  in  his  power,  is  a benefactor  to  his 
fellow-beings.  After  man’s  absolute  wants  are  pro- 
vided for,  it  is  more  important  to  him  to  receive 
spiritual  than  material  benefits.  He,  then,  who 
knows  how  to  time  these  benefits,  is  a true  bene- 
factor ; and  such  is  Mr.  Stanley.  His  fine  houses 
and  gardens  are  not  so  many  exhibitions  of  vulgar 
pride  and  ostentation,  to  gratify  self,  but  one  acces- 
sible temple,  where  a pure  soul  can  take  a spiritual 
draught  of  bliss.  There  is  no  show,  no  parade ; but 
harmony  adorns,  and  elegant  simplicity  stamps  all. 
There,  in  every  nook,  you  will  see  a reflected  ray  of 
his  poetic  genius,  for  every  thing  there  has  its  place,  its 
object,  as  it  has  its  idea.  He  may  be  truly  said  to 
live  poetry — the  highest  life,  for  he  moulds  matter 
to  his  ever  conceptive  genius.  At  the  approach  to 
his  mansion,  situated  on  the  brow'  of  a hill,  thickly 
wooded,  on  the  north  and  west  sides,  and  open  to 
the  morning  rays  of  the  sun,  that  come  to  dance  on 
the  rippling  waters  of  a modest  brook  at  the  foot, 
the  simple  elegance  of  this  spacious  edifice,  har- 
monizing with  the  beauty  of  the  rural  scene  around, 
gives  one  the  impression,  that  this  is  the  abode  of  no 
mean  spirit.  And  on  passing  his  threshold,  one 
cannot  but  perceive  the  life-quickening  atmosphere 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


95 


which  he  begins  to  inhale ; so  much  every  thing 
there  conspires  to  awaken  his  slumbering  soul.  Thus 
Mr.  Stanley’s  gratification  of  a refined  taste  is  con- 
secrated, by  his  aiming  at  the  same  time  at  the  ele- 
vation of  others ; for  his  constant  practice  is,  to  give 
to  whatever  good  that  benefits  him,  the  widest  influ- 
ence on  others.  But  this  is  not  the  only  proof  that 
he  understands  the  true  purposes  of  life,  and  the 
worth  of  the  means  that  a kind  Providence  has 
placed  at  his  disposal. 

People  generally  think  that  they  are  remarkably 
generous  and  human,  when  they  are  ready  to  give 
alms  to  the  poor,  while  their  heart  and  house  are 
shut  to  those  who  are  not  included  in  this  category. 
But  Mr.  Stanley  differs  from  them.  He  says  that  all 
men  have  equal,  though  different  claims,  upon  his 
abilities  and  means,  and  he  must  attend  to  them  all ; 
wisdom,  however,  is  necessary  to  appreciate  their 
relative  importance.  The  generosity  that  wells  from 
the  very  depths  of  one’s  heart,  benefits  with  its  sweet 
waters  all  who  approach,  according  to  their  deserts. 
Hospitality  is  but  one  of  the  many  streams  that  issues 
freely  from  this  noble  fountain.  If  I were  allowed 
to  distinguish  him  on  this  account,  I would  put  on 
his  mansion’s  portico,  this  inscription  : “ Enter  stran- 
ger, hospitality  dwells  here.”  This  is  the  first  of 
social  virtues,  around  which  all  others  are  apt  to 
cluster ; its  absence  makes  even  the  genuineness 
of  its  sisters  suspicious.  The  rule  of  his  house  is, 
that  he  who  crosses  its  threshold,  should  be  pleased 


96 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


with  himself  and  its  inmates  ; and  none  of  his  house- 
hold are  inclined  to  swerve  from  it,  but  moved  by 
the  same  spirit  of  kindness,  all  act  in  concert.  On 
entering  Mr.  Stanley’s  house,  there  is  always  some 
one  of  his  family  to  receive  the  guest  gladly.  Not 
iinfrequently,  Mr.  Stanley  himself,  with  an  inviting 
smile,  meets  the  comer  at  the  door;  Mrs.  Stanley, 
self  possessed,  rises  from  her  seat,  and  gracefully  ex- 
tending her  hand  to  him,  drops  a few  sweet  words 
of  welcome,  and  their  children  salute  him  also  with 
a flattering  e.xpression  of  gladness.  In  your  recep- 
tion there  is  not  that  stiff  and  cold  formality  that 
chills  you  to  the  very  marrow,  while  it  exhibits  the 
host  or  hostess  to  no  great  advantage ; but  grace, 
ease,  and  appropriate  manner,  assure  you  of  your 
being  welcome.  And  so,  at  once,  you  feel  at  home, 
and  they  make  a considerable  advance  upon  your 
affections  and  esteeem.  Thus  a few  minutes  show 
that  you  are  in  the  company  of  polished  people. 
There  is  much  in  the  first  moment  of  meeting.  At 
this  time,  if  you  have  some  skill  in  unmasking  man’s 
character,  you  can  often  read  one  half  of  the  indi- 
vidual’s private  history.  Or,  at  least,  if  there  be 
much  nobleness  in  him,  you  cannot  fail  of  noticing 
it ; as  in  the  case  of  the  Stanleys,  whose  agreeable 
conversation,  and  insinuating  manners,  captivate 
you  irresistibly.  They  all  have  a peculiar  tact  at 
conversation  ; you  can  listen  to  them  for  hours,  and, 
if  not  instructed,  you  will  be  certainly  pleased.  I 
hold  that  this  tact  can  be  acquired  by  dmost  all, 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


97 


and  it  should  be  studied  as  an  indispensable  part  of 
good-breeding.  In  addition  to  good  sense,  one  must 
have  fine  sense,  and  be  self-possessed  and  kindly  dis- 
posed towards  his  companions,  and  then  the  first  ob- 
ject at  hand  may  prove  to  him  an  agreeable  source 
of  conversation ; gossip  and  weather,  however,  must 
be  excepted ; for  they  are  fit  food  for  only  little  peo- 
ple and  vacant  minds.  It  is  the  distinguishing 
peculiarity  of  Holy-brood,  that  these  refined  topics 
are  never  there  introduced ; and  if  some  tyro  in 
manners  bring  them  in,  he  is  skillfully,  though  ab- 
ruptly, thrown  out  of  his  track. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

During  my  stay  at  Mr.  Stanley’s,  I have  seen, 
heard,  and  enjoyed  much ; more  than  I can  commu- 
nicate to  you.  I have  seen  there  all  professions ; law- 
yers, divines,  physicians,  artists,  politicians,  military 
men,  artisans,  and  simple  farmers ; gentlemen  of 
leisure,  and  professed  scholars ; I have  heard  and 
talked  politics,  religion,  arts,  sciences,  and  philoso- 
phy ; I have  enjoyed  the  company  of  high-bred  and 
handsome  women,  and  listened  to  their  winning 
words  and  charming  strains  of  music.  And  now, 
when  contrasted  with  the  present,  all  this  appears 
like  a fairy  land  in  the  distance,  scarcely  credi- 
8* 


98 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


ble  to  have  once  been  reality.  Such  is  our  nature ! 
Tlie  past  and  the  future  always  appear  more  fas- 
cinating and  grand  than  the  present.  We  were 
not  made  for  the  present.  Eternity  for  man  has 
only  the  past  and  future;  for  the  present  is  only 
God’s— his  eternal  now.  The  actual  moment  of 
enjoyment  falls  not  under  our  cognizance  till  it  is 
past.  Life  at  Holy-brood  appears  like  a rich  kalei- 
doscope, full  of  ever  changing  colors,  ever  spell- 
bound to  tlie  same  centre — the  master-spirit  of  the 
host.  All  professions  lose  their  esprit  de  corps  when 
they  come  within  his  magic  circle ; equally  related 
to  each  other,  they  stand  as  men  upon  the  broad  plat- 
form of  intrinsic  worth.  The  divine  abates  his  arro- 
gance and  cant,  and  sees  that  he  has  something  to 
learn  from  the  laity,  and  must  rebuke  their  vices 
lovingly ; the  scliolar  leaves  his  pedantry  and  adorns 
himself  with  true  elegance  and  grace;  the  lawyer 
finds  that  the  spirit  of  law  is  all  in  all,  and  not  the 
letter ; the  physician  is  clean  of  his  essences,  and 
professional,  unmeaning  jargon  : the  soldier  does  not 
forget  to  be  a good  citizen ; the  artist  keeps  in  sight 
the  noble  and  the  ideal ; the  tradesman  subdues  his 
excessive  love  of  gain ; the  politician  governs  him- 
self only  by  pure  patriotism;  and  thus  they  all, 
fashioned  by  a generous  spirit,  assimilate  and  ex- 
pand each  other’s  knowledge  and  sympathies,  making 
a delightful  circle  of  well-bred  men.  It  is  a true 
pleasure  to  Mr.  Stanley  to  live  amidst  and  seek  after 
such  men.  He  who  has  talent  joined  to  moral  worth, 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


99 


good  breeding,  and  the  desire  of  improvement,  has 
an  unfailing  recommendation  to  the  good  graces  of 
this  noble  man.  To  many  of  such  he  has  extended 
a helping  hand,  regardless  of  name  or  country ; for 
with  him,  worth  is  of  heavenly  parentage,  superior 
to  all  earthly  distinctions. 

To  me  the  social  intercouse  at  his  mansion  ap- 
pears, as  the  nearest  approximation  to  that  of  heavenly 
spirits;  for  harmony  and  freedom  are  its  character- 
istics. But  harmony  and  freedom,  in  social  inter- 
course mean,  with  the  Stanleys,  an  unrestrained  flow 
of  feelings  to  the  utmost  bounds  of  reason,  and  a 
submissive  deference  to  its  supreme  laws.  Here, 
all  are  put  on  a level,  yet  all  are  studious  to  render 
each  their  due  regard  without  suffering  in  their  re- 
spective dignity.  There  is  neither  arrogance  of 
purse,  nor  conceit  of  intellect  to  offend  one ; for 
good-breeding,  fuses,  so  to  speak,  the  whole  compa- 
ny into  a refined  democracy.  Even  women,  Vvho 
are  naturally  very  fearful  of  contamination,  do  not 
turn  up  their  pretty  noses  at  their  neighbors,  who 
happen  not  to  roll  in  splendid  carriages.  This 
proves,  satisfactorily,  that  even  they,  when  well-bred, 
can  have  the  good  sense  to  see  that  polished  man- 
ners and  intellect  are  the  only  distinctions  which 
God  permits  in  society  rightly  constituted.  The 
fair  sex  are  held  at  Holy-brood,  in  precisely  the  same 
esteem  as  men ; both  are  under  mutual  obligations 
towards  each  other.  This  is  the  only  true  way  of 
refining  them  both,  and  making  them  respect  each 


100 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


Other.  An  ill-bred  woman  has  no  more  claim  upon 
man’s  respect  or  consideration,  than  a man  of  a like 
character.  Respect  should  not  be  the  price  of  hered- 
itary, but  of  acquired  merit.  If  a woman  strive  not 
to  deserve  it,  man  should  withhold  it  from  her.  It  is 
such  an  understanding  of  these  equal  obligations, 
that  makes  the  women  that  meet  at  Mrs.  Stanley’s 
so  polite  and  agreeable.  They  come  to  pleeise 
others,  and  so  they  are  pleased  in  their  turn ; for 
each  man,  who  deserves  the  name,  would  be  ashamed 
not  to  do  his  part.  Politeness  is  a plant  that  grows 
luxuriantly  only  when  watered  from  the  well  of  our 
neighbor,  otherwise  its  growth  is  stinted.  One  kind 
act  on  the  part  of  one,  elicits  another  from  him  who 
receives  it.  All  this  seems  to  be  well  understood 
by  the  company  who  visit  Holy-brood.  I never  met 
with  a more  fascinating  set  of  people  than  they  who 
frequent  that  mansion.  Polish,  ease  and  kindness, 
are  inseparable,  with  them.  There,  you  never  see 
sexes  assorted  like  black  and  white  sheep,  but  they 
mingle  promiscuously  in  a general  conversation,  into 
which  each  one  throws  his  mite ; and  thus  the  com- 
mon stock  becomes  rich,  varied  and  lively.  Wit  and 
merry  laughter  fly  like  electric  sparks  around  their 
joyous  circle.  Perfect  freedom  of  opinion  is  consid- 
ered there  a sacred  right  of  each  individual ; and 
no  one  is  allowed  to  take  offence,  if  another  express 
his  own  views  of  things,  as  long  as  he  does  it  ear- 
nestly and  respectfully.  Freedom  of  opinion  is  the 
palladium  of  truth,  and  the  charm  of  social  inter- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


101 


course  j while  restraint  upon  it,  fosters  hypocrisy 
and  falsehood,  and  blasts  all  the  pleasure  of  society. 

By  way  of  atonement,  I must  confess  to  you,  that 
I have  seen  some  things  there,  which,  at  first,  shocked 
my  English  prejudices,  but,  in  the  end,  gained  my 
approval.  When  a stranger  happens  to  come  with 
some  friend  of  the  family,  he  is  only  introduced  to 
the  host  and  hostess,  but  not  to  any  of  the  guests 
that  may  be  present.  However,  he  is  perfectly  at 
his  ease,  and  the  company  without  ceremony  enter 
with  him  into  conversation,  as  if  they  had  known 
him  for  some  time,  and  make  themselves  agreeable 
to  him.  They  do  not  shun  new  acquaintances,  but 
seem  to  court  them;  and  so  the  stranger  can  scarcely 
help  imagining  himself  among  his  old  friends.  And  if, 
afterwards,  they  meet  him  elsewhere,  they  are  glad 
to  recognize  him,  unless  he  has  proved  himself  an 
exceptionable  companion.  Paying  due  regard,  and 
making  ourselves  entertaining  to  each  one  of  the 
company  we  happen  to  meet,  is  showing  proper 
respect  for  the  host ; the  reverse  of  this  conduct, 
besides  being  discreditable  to  ourselves,  is  an  insult 
to  him. 

Another  thing,  that  attracted  my  notice,  is  the 
mode  of  entering  and  leaving  the  room.  There  is 
no  calling  the  role  of  the  names  of  the  company 
present,  and  nodding  to  each  one.  The  guest  WcJks 
in  with  a graceful  bow  and  goes  to  the  hostess  and 
host  to  salute  them  in  the  usual  manner,  then  bows 
to  the  left  and  right  to  the  company,  w'ho  acknowl- 


102 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


edge  his  salutation.  On  leaving  the  room  he  goes 
to  the  lady  and  gentleman  of  the  house  to  bid  them 
good-bye,  and  then  with  a general  bow  he  does  the 
same  to  the  company.  Women,  who  enter,  without 
leaning  on  a man’s  arm,  go  through  with  this  cere- 
mony in  the  same  way.  Thus  woman  has  an  oppor- 
tunity to  display  her  ease  and  grace,  if  she  possess 
them ; if  not,  she  is  constrained  to  acquire  them 
both.  The  family  take  particular  care,  that  those 
who  are  for  the  first  time  in  their  house  should  re- 
ceive due  attention. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

It  is  the  opinion  at  Holy-brood,  that  women  should 
be  excluded  from  none  of  the  social  amusements  of 
men ; for  when  the  sexes  freely  mingle,  the  former 
acquire  self-possession  and  ease,  and  develope  their 
powers  of  pleasing,  and  the  latter  are  studious  of  the 
proprieties  of  language  and  manner,  and,  besides, 
both  gain  in  information  and  in  goodness  of  heart. 
That  frequent  precursor  of  gross  revelry — the 
practice  of  excluding  women  after  the  cloth  is  re- 
moved, is  not  in  fashion  at  Mr.  Stanley’s.  Thus 
the  joviality  of  the  company  is  not  diminished,  but 
purified.  Here,  it  is  not  thought  that  whatever  is 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


103 


English,  is  good ; and  hence  English  fashions  and 
habits  receive  no  preference,  unless  they  be  more 
rational  than  others.  Mr.  Stanley  believes  even  that 
the  nation  would  be  more  happy,  if  they  would  dis- 
enthrall themselves  from  their  English  predilections. 
Each  nation  has  a right  to  its  own  fashions  and  hab- 
its, provided  they  be  rational  and  refined.  But  all 
customs  should  spring  from  the  condition  and  wants 
of  a people.  While  we  should  be  slow  in  adopting 
those  practices  of  another  nation  which  are  not  con- 
genial with  our  situation,  we  ought  to  be  ready  to 
follow  those  that  are  so,  if  they  be  better  than  our 
own.  As  when  passing  through  a field,  burs,  of 
themselves,  cling  to  us  fast,  while  we  must  take  some 
pains  to  pick  roses ; so  is  it  with  bad  and  good  hab- 
its, in  traversing  the  field  of  life.  Effort  and  dis- 
crimination are  necessary  to  appropriate  and  assimi- 
late the  latter,  and  to  eradicate  and  shake  off  the 
former. 

According  to  these  notions  is  the  mode  of  life  at 
Holy-brood  regulated ; for  rationality  is  the  touch- 
stone of  everything  there.  Their  occupations  and 
amusements  are  suited  to  time  and  their  wants.  To 
preserve  his  physical  well-being,  Mr.  Stanley  con- 
forms his  habits  to  the  designs  of  nature,  and  never 
turns  night  into  day.  He  would  be  ashamed  to  say 
that  he  dines  at  eight  in  the  evening ; but  he  sups 
about  that  time,  for  his  temperate  repasts  are  at 
six  hours  apart.  To  preserve  proper  equilibrium 
between  the  body  and  the  mind,  he  alternates  his 


104 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


mental  labors  with  physical  exercise,  and  prefers  to 
retire  with  bodily  rather  than  mental  fatigue;  which 
he  does  at  an  hour  before  midnight  at  least ; in  con- 
sideration that  some  rest  before  that  time  is  the  most 
refreshing  to  the  system.  He  also  shuns  sloth  and 
anxiety ; for  he  maintains  that  activity  and  cheerful- 
ness are  the  sources  of  mental  and  physical  vigor. 
At  Holy-brood,  occupation  is  not  over  estimated, 
nor  pleasure  undervalued  ; consequently  its  inmates 
are  neither  idlers,  nor  that  pitiable  class  of  drudges, 
who  busy  themselves,  not  unlike  moles,  in  heaps  of 
earthly  cares,  and  cannot  sustain  their  life  when  out 
of  them.  He  who  lives  only  to  accumulate  earthly 
goods,  defaces  God’s  image  imprinted  on  his  soul. 
We  are  not  created  to  toil  like  the  beast  of  burden, 
under  the  rule  of  a hard  master,  nor  to  pursue  con- 
tinually mere  pleasure.  The  truly  wise  course  is, 
to  mingle  labor  with  pleasure ; but  neither  should 
ever  absorb  our  faculties.  Many  vices  are  justly 
ascribed  to  idlene.ss;  but  many  also  may  be  traced 
to  excessive  or  rather  misdirected  industry.  He 
whose  soul  is  parched  with  covetousness  for  the  things 
of  this  world,  for  their  own  sake,  may  be  as  vicious 
as  he  who  constantly  hunts  after  sensual  pleasures  ; 
the  difference  between  them  consists  only  in  the  va- 
riety, not  in  the  amount  of  vice.  It  should  be  con- 
sidered as  discreditable  to  be  irrationally  laborious, 
as  to  be  idle;  and  as  meritorious  to  be  rationally 
idle,  as  to  be  industrious.  Labor  and  pleasure  are 
designed  to  enhance  each  other’s  value,  but  either. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


105 


alone,  tends  to  debase  the  human  soul.  All  pleas- 
ure is  evanescent,  for  it  has  no  aim  beyond  the 
present  moment,  and  the  excitement  it  produces  in 
us  is  too  tumultuous  to  endure  long.  But  well- 
ordered  occupations,  keeping  an  end  in  view  before 
us,  feed  gently  the  hope  of  success,  and  thus  make 
toil  less  wearisome,  and  it  becomes  light,  if  occa- 
sionally relieved  by  some  pleasure.  These  are  the 
reasons  for  which  we  should  seek  occupation  and 
pleasure,  each  for  the  sake  of  the  other,  giving, 
however,  preponderance  to  the  former ; and  these 
are  the  means  to  keep  the  soul  and  body  in  a healthy 
condition. 

Such  being  the  views  entertained  at  Holy-brood, 
tedium  of  life  is  not  known  there.  Mr.  Stanley’s 
affairs  do  not  consume  the  whole  of  his  time,  but 
he  has  leisure  for  intercourse  with  his  friends,  and  for 
his  intellectual  pursuits.  While  he  sees  that  his  in- 
come flows  through  its  usual  channels,  he  is  desir- 
ous to  enjoy  it  with  those  around  him.  He  does 
not  live  for  the  enjoyment  of  ostentation,  as  many  do, 
but  for  the  real  pleasure  of  the  society  of  his  fellow- 
men.  He  is  always  happy  to  entertain  company  at 
his  hospitable  board.  There  is  usually  at  his  table 
a spare  cover  for  a guest,  whom  he  may  invite  un- 
known to  his  wife.  He  says,  if  a friend  should  un- 
expectedly come,  he  should  be  willing  to  fare  in  the 
way  we  do;  as  for  enemies,  they  will  not  come. 
But  why  should  one  be  discontented  with  his  recep- 
9 


106 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


tion,  when  he  finds  order,  neatness,  and  kind  hearts  ? 
Those  little  dinner-parties,  and  evening  amusements, 
which  are  occasionally  given  at  Holy-brood,  are  the 
most  pleasant  things  of  the  sort  to  be  found  any- 
where ; for  there  is  so  much  ease,  grace  and  freedom, 
so  much  true  social  intercourse.  Nor  are  those  ac- 
cidental meetings  less  agreeable,  when  chance  brings 
a few  people  together.  With  some,  soulless  formal- 
ity usurps  the  place  of  politeness  and  hospitality, 
but,  with  the  Stanleys,  the  forms  of  polished  society 
retain  their  original  meaning;  for  they  are  so  many 
symbols  of  their  excellence  of  heart.  Their  polite- 
ness has  the  merit  of  forethought : it  anticipates 
one’s  wishes ; and  their  courteousness  is  free  of  the 
air  of  condescension.  What  is  particularly  inter- 
esting to  me  is,  to  see  even  the  younger  children 
impressed  with  the  duty  of  making  themselves  agree- 
able to  their  parents’  company.  Mrs.  Stanley,  to 
make  her  house  pleasant  to  her  children,  and  espe- 
cially to  keep  her  sons  from  the  temptation  of  bad 
company,  likes  to  have  young  people  come  in  -the 
evening,  and  then  she  contrives  for  them  some  games 
in  which  even  the  elder  join  with  pleasure.  She 
thinks  that  very  precise,  or,  as  she  calls  it,  starched 
up  decorum  of  years,  is  but  a sorry  counterfeit  of 
true  dignity ; and  she  cannot  understand  why  there 
should  ever  be  any  objection  on  the  part  of  the  elder 
to  enter  into  the  innocent  amusements  of  youth. 
Happy  is  he  whose  spirits  do  not  grow  rigid  with 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


107 


years ! Thus,  Mrs.  Stanley,  making  herself  beloved 
by  all,  renders  her  house  a school  for  lofty  sentiments 
and  refined  manners  for  the  young,  and  a delightful 
place  of  resort  for  all  talent. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Of  the  many  well-cultivated  men,  whom  I have 
seen  at  Holy-brood,  I shall  make  you  acquainted 
with  one,  not  for  his  culture,  but  for  his  enthusiasm 
in  behalf  of  some  very  singular  views  of  his  own. 
Mr.  Drygrass,  a young  lawyer  of  sanguine  tempera- 
ment, endowed  with  no  more  than  common  abilities, 
joined  to  a recklessness  of  opinion,  wishes  to  spin 
out  of  his  single  brain,  the  solution  of  the  destinies 
of  the  world.  The  contrast  he  presents,  to  all  around 
him,  may  be  likened  to  the  appearance  of  a rhinoce- 
ros in  the  midst  of  antelopes.  Deficient  in  grace, 
and  fineness  of  feeling,  he  has  yet  enough  of  good- 
nature to  be  allied  to  noble  spirits.  He  seems  to 
possess  all  the  faculties  necessary  to  adapt  means  to 
ends,  only  that  his  aims  are  not  very  lofty ; as  he 
does  not  conceive  a higher  object  to  be  attained  than 
acquisition  of  wealth.  His  capacities  are  those  which 
can  ensure  him  success  to  his  wishes,  and  which,  in 
the  eyes  of  the  vulgar,  constitute  smartness.  Deli- 


108 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


cacy  of  feeling  can  never  be  an  obstacle  to  him  in 
reaching  for  the  dollar.  He  takes  great  interest 
in  religious  subjects,  and  is  a very  forward  specu- 
lator. He  hopes  that,  through  his  speculations,  he 
will  be  able  to  bring  about  a reconciliation  be- 
tween God  and  Mammon ; and  thus  prove  himself 
the  greatest  benefactor  to  the  world,  which  stands  in 
great  need  of  an  anodyne  for  its  conscience.  Unlike 
Mr.  Stanley,  (who,  also  aware  of  the  moral  degrada- 
tion of  the  race,  yet  treats  every  one  as  an  honest 
man,  till  he  is  convinced  of  the  contrary,)  Mr.  Dry- 
grass  piques  himself  on  his  wisdom  in  adopting  for 
the  rule  of  his  social  intercourse,  that  despicable 
maxim,  “ treat  a man  as  a rogue  till  he  proves  himself 
to  be  honest.”  He  is  evidently  desirous  of  distinc- 
tion ; for  his  vanity  often  betrays  what  he  wishes 
others  should  think  him  to  be.  His  envy  of  all  emi- 
nence frequently  makes  him  appear  very  ridiculous. 
Holy-brood  is  frequented  by  foreigners,  and  natu- 
rally the  merits  of  various  countries  are  there  freely 
discussed,  as  Mr.  Stanley  takes  interest  in  other  na- 
tions besides  his  own.  On  such  occasions,  Mr.  Dry- 
grass  invariably  construes  the  praise  of  a foreign 
land  into  the  blame  of  his  native  one ; as  if  it  were 
not  with  nations,  as  with  individuals,  of  whom  none 
are  perfect,  yet  all  may  possess  some  good  quality. 
And  if  a foreigner’s  merit  receives  its  due  acknowl- 
edgment from  the  generous  Stanley,  he  seems  to 
think  that  so  much  is  taken  from  his  own  deserts. 
He  does  not  understand  the  beauty  of  Mr.  Stanley’s 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


109 


sentiment,  so  concisely  expressed,  that  gentlemen, 
although  of  various  climes,  are  of  one  country, 
and  must  be  treated  with  equal  distinction  and  jus- 
tice. Misunderstanding  true  independence,  he  con- 
founds the  polish  of  good  society  with  servility  of 
manner,  and  so  he  frequently  errs  on  the  side  of  vul- 
garity. Born  of  rich  parents,  he  believes  himself  to 
be  entitled  to  the  distinction  due  to  a well-bred  man, 
and  is  irritated  if  he  be  taken  for  what  he  really  is. 
Full  of  his  own  importance,  he  puts  on  airs,  and 
thinks  himself  high-born.  In  fine,  he  is  a gentle- 
man only  so  far  as  the  skill  of  the  tailor  can  make 
him  one.  He  is,  however,  considered  a highly  re- 
spectable man,  as  he  never  committed  any  crime, 
and  attends  regularly  to  divine  service,  every  Sunday, 
twice  a day. 

You  will  wonder  how  such  a man  could  have  ac- 
cess to  Mr.  Stanley’s  house.  An  accident  brought 
him  there,  and  as  he  showed  some  partiality  for  the 
society  at  Holy-brood,  he  was  not  excluded  from  it, 
in  hope  that  his  roughness  in  time  would  become 
smoothed,  if  not  polished  away.  He  possesses  some 
good  qualities,  and  his  faults  must  be  rather  ascribed 
to  his  deficient  education,  than  to  the  inborn  vice 
of  his  nature.  Mr.  Stanley  wished  long  to  test  the 
truth  of  the  saying,  that  “ it  takes  three  generations 
to  make  a gentleman and  now  an  opportunity 
being  presented,  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Drygrass,  he 
endeavors  to  use  his  influence  with  the  view  to  effect 
this  desirable  change  in  the  young  lawyer.  His  pa- 
9* 


110 


THE  IDEAL  MAK. 


rents,  illiterate,  although  able  to  read  and  write,  had 
nothing  to  value  themselves  upon  but  their  wealth, 
which,  commanding  such  a high  respect  from  the 
motley  crowd,  made  them  think  that  the  perfection 
of  man  consists  in  outward  decency  of  conduct,  in 
loud  professions  of  respect  for  Christianity  without 
love  for  it,  and  in  shrewdness  in  the  management  of 
one’s  worldly  affairs.  At  this  perfection  they  aimed, 
and  they  rejoiced  to  see  their  son,  as  he  grew  up, 
approach  so  near  the  mark. 

Notwithstanding  all  that,  Mr.  Stanley  hopes  to 
make  of  Mr.  Drygrass  a little  better  man  than  his 
parents  have  left  him.  He  sees  already  some  im- 
provement. He  occasionally  is  a little  ashamed  of 
his  excessive  eagerness  for  getting  money,  and  even 
affects  generosity.  Trades-people  begin  to  wonder, 
that  he  does  not  beat  them  down  in  their  prices  so 
much  as  he  used  to  do.  This  change  must  be  owing 
to  Mr.  Stanley,  who  has  the  greatest  horror  and 
contempt  of  meanness  in  money-matters  ; he  can  ex- 
cuse all  vices  but  that  one.  Meanness  is  the  very 
lowness  itself;  there  is  nothing  below  it.  A well- 
brefl  man  prefers  to  suffer  rather  than  to  show  the 
.slightest  shade  of  this  vice;  he  never  forgets  that 
gold,  when  overvalued,  becomes  the  blackest  dust 
that  can  soil  an  honorable  man’s  character.  Mr. 
Stanley’s  rule  of  trade  is,  that  one  party  should  be 
willing  to  pay  liberally,  and  the  other  should  not  be 
too  exacting.  Mr.  Drygrass  used  to  frequent  low- 
companies  of  wealthy  young  men,  w’ho  live  without 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


Ill 


any  noble  aim,  only  to  organize  clubs  for  tbe  pur- 
pose of  carousing ; but  now  he  does  not.  Although 
this  is  a great  step  towards  reform,  and  a good 
ground  for  the  hope  of  better  things  from  Mr.  Dry- 
grass,  yet,  it  seems  to  me,  he  may  go  but  little  far- 
ther and  then  stop,  unless  he  resolve  to  follow  lov- 
ingly the  beautiful,  the  good,  and  the  true.  Until 
he  does  that,  he  can  have  no  noble  aim  to  live  for; 
he  cannot  rise  above  the  level  of  every  day  men ; 
and  his  assumption  of  the  title  of  a gentleman  will 
be  mere  arrogance,  if  not  mockery  of  what  is  high- 
minded.  It  cannot  be  denied,  that  every  man,  of  how- 
ever low  an  origin  he  may  come,  may  possess  all  the 
qualities  necessary  to  make  himself  the  noblest,  and 
may  become  so.  But  if  he  be  of  high  parentage,  (I 
mean  of  the  cultivated  and  refined,)  he  is  put  at 
once  by  birth  at  an  eminence  from  which  the  sum- 
mit of  perfection  is  less  distant,  and  consequently  he 
is  surer  of  attaining  it.  In  the  first  case,  puny  objects 
intercept  and  limit  his  view,  and  he  must  ever  strug- 
gle to  raise  himself  above  them  ; and  thus,  frequently, 
he  spends  his  strength  before  he  reaches  a sufficiently 
commanding  point.  In  the  second  instance  he  is, 
from  his  cradle,  accustomed  to  survey,  like  an  eagle, 
a wide  horizon,  in  which  small  objects  disappear, 
and  great  ones  grow  daily  more  familiar;  and,  like 
the  bird-king,  he  revels  in  a free  and  exhilarating 
atmosphere.  The  qualities  which  a man  receives 
at  birth,  are  tinged  with  the  peculiarities  of  his  pa- 
rents, and,  more  or  less,  modified  by  the  circum- 


112 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


stances  under  which  he  may  happen  to  grow  up. 
As  golden  ore  must  pass  through  fire,  before  it  is 
purified  of  its  native  dross,  so  must  man,  if  he  be 
low-born,  cleanse  himself  of  all  the  impurities  of  his 
lineage  by  the  ordeal  of  constant  efforts  to  reach 
the  height  of  nobleness.  As  the  shoot  of  a luxu- 
riant tree,  whose  roots  penetrate  deep  into  the  rich 
soil,  possesses  the  fine  qualities  of  its  parent  stem, 
so  man,  if  he  be  high-born,  inherits,  under  favorable 
circumstances,  the  fine  qualities  of  the  heart  and 
mind  that  grace  his  sires.  And,  indeed,  how  could 
it  be  otherwise?  If  the  fine  qualities  of  the  race 
could  not  be  ever  ripening  under  culture  and  in  suc- 
cessive generations,  then  all  the  rational  hopes  of 
progress  must  be  given  up.  Very  few  men,  of  them- 
selves, can,  like  a rocket,  shoot  up  from  the  ground, 
high  into  the  skies,  to  be  the  wonder  and  admiration 
of  those  below.  We  know  but  one  Shakspeare 
who  so  rose,  and  whom  the  race  must  recognize  as 
the  only  true  Prince  of  the  blood.  But,  to  common 
men,  external  helps  are  of  great  consequence  in 
their  attempts  to  scale  eminence. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


113 


CHAPTER  XX. 

For  these  reasons  I do  not  entertain  high  hopes 
of  Mr.  Drygrass,  as  he  manifests  no  warm  love  for 
nobleness,  and  as  he  has  to  contend  with  the  disad- 
vantage of  low  birth.  The  downward  or  upward 
direction  that  parents  may  take,  too  often  determines 
the  course  of  their  children.  It  is,  therefore,  im- 
portant for  them  to  know,  that  we  cannot  put  on,  at 
pleasure,  the  apparel  of  true  gentility : we  must 
grow  up  in  it. 

There  are  other  means,  which  may  be  more  suc- 
cessful than  any,  in  elevating  Mr.  Drygrass’s  nature, 
and  which  Mr.  Stanley  seems  not  to  heed.  If  the 
daughter’s  charms  should  have  no  effect,  I doubt 
whether  the  fathers’s  efforts  can  avail  much.  In  the 
presence  of  Isabella,  he  is  like  wa.x  that  can  be 
shaped  at  will — so  plastic  does  he  grOw  under  the 
influence  of  her  eyes.  It  must  be  confessed,  that 
man’s  sternness  of  character  quails  before  the  poten- 
cy of  woman’s  eye;  and  that  nothing  rebukes  him 
more  powerfully,  than  nobleness  personified  in  a 
woman.  Nature  teaches  woman  how  to  disguise 
her  tender  passion,  and  so  not  unfrequently  kindness 
becomes  the  veil  of  love.  It  is  difficult,  therefore, 
to  tell  which  is  which,  in  a given  case,  if  we  judge 
merely  by  appearances.  Whether  the  interest  she 
shows  for  Mr.  Drygrass,  is  to  be  ascribed  to  her 


114 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


usual  kindness,  or  to  a stronger  inclination,  I am 
not  able  to  say ; but  the  safest  conclusion  would  be 
to  assign  it  to  both.  What  worthy  of  her,  she  sees 
in  him,  is  more  than  I can  tell.  Woman’s  heart  is 
a riddle,  the  solution  of  which  requires  more  skill 
than  I can  command.  However  this  may  be,  she  is 
sensible  of  her  power  over  the  young  man,  and  she 
exercises  it  for  his  benefit;  I am  certain  of  this 
much  in  this  matter,  that,  unless  he  rise  up  to  her, 
he  will  never  be  able  to  call  her  his  own ; for  she 
will  not  descend  to  him.  Love  is  a mighty,  all-con- 
suming flame,  and  it  may  yet  fire  even  the  clumsy 
block  of  opaque  matter  into  crystaline  transparency. 
If  this  should  be  effected,  his  religious  difference 
would  not  be  in  his  way.  Mrs.  Stanley  says,  that 
love  has  its  own  creed,  which  is  capable  of  harmon- 
izing all  religious  creeds,  that  may  be  professed  by 
sincere  and  enlightened  minds. 

Whether  he  will  fulfill  Mr.  Stanley’s  wishes,  I will 
not  venture  to  predict ; but  I doubt  not  he  will  be 
somewhat  purified  by  the  influence  of  the  mother 
and  daughter.  As  the  morning  dew  embalms  even 
the  ungainly  thistle  with  a sweet  and  refreshing 
scent,  so  woman’s  influence,  when  used  firmly, 
gently,  and  aright,  embalms  the  perverse  heart  of  a 
man  with  something  heavenly.  Woman  can  fashion 
our  childhood,  and  she  can  soften  our  rigid  man- 
hood ; if,  then,  man  be  ill-bred,  she  must  lay  it  to 
herself. 

Thus  much  I have  told  you  of  Mr.  Drygrass,  and 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


115 


yet  have  not  stated  some  of  his  singular  notions  to 
which  I have  alluded.  Once,  when  he  had  a favor- 
able opportunity  to  display  his  views,  he  thus  com- 
menced ; “ Our  thoughts  are  the  shadows  of  realities, 
existing  either  immediately  around  us,  or  in  the  im- 
mensity of  the  universe.  As  a cloud  in  its  passage 
across  the  zenith  is  reflected  in  pellucid  waters 
below,  so  realities  at  times  are  mirrored  in  the  hu- 
man mind.  All  human  conceptions  are  types  of 
truths,  of  realities  existing  in  the  boundless  space  of 
nature.  And  so,  whatever  you  conceive,  is  true  to 
you,  and  it  has  its  existence  somewhere,  besides  in 
your  mind.  So  all  poetic  fancies  have  their  being. 
This  appears  to  me  to  be  incontrovertible ; for  spirit 
is  active,  but  matter  is  only  passive ; then  all  mani- 
festations are  true,  for  they  are  of  spirit.  This  being 
conceded,  as  it  must  be,  it  would  be  enough  to  sup- 
port my  opinion  in  respect  to  the  mode  of  the  disso- 
lution of  the  world.  I shall  bring,  however,  other 
arguments  in  its  support.  We  know  that  nothing  is 
lost  in  nature ; matter  continually  changes  the  rela- 
tion of  its  parts,  and  yet  exists  still  the  same,  although 
under  ever  new  phases.  What  is  now  but  a particle 
of  stone,  may  soon  enter  into  the  substance  of  a 
plant;  then  into  that  of  an  animal,  or  even  of  a 
man ; and  thus  keep  ascending  and  descending 
through  the  whole  chain  of  the  creation.  The  whole 
mass  of  matter  of  our  earth,  must  first  pass  through 
the  changes  of  the  highest  form  of  existence,  before 
it  accomplishes  its  circle.  Man  is  that  highest 


116 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


form  : and  so  the  destinies  of  the  world  shall  not  be 
accomplished,  till  the  particles  composing  it  pass 
through  the  organic  changes  of  the  human  body. 
When  that  is  completed,  then  each  individual  spirit, 
the  offspring  of  the  Almighty  Spirit,  at  the  bidding 
of  the  Highest,  shall  take  up  its  former  earthly  re- 
ceptacle ; and  thus  this  whole  world  metamorphos- 
ing, will  vanish  in  an  instant,  and  its  space  will  be 
occupied  by  these  newly-attired  spirits,  presenting 
themselves  before  the  tribunal  of  God.  The  number 
of  spirits,  of  course,  must  be  limited  to  the  quantity 
of  matter  which  this  earth  can  furnish  for  their 
bodies.  If  we  could  know  the  weight  of  the  globe, 
and  the  quantity  of  matter  necessary  to  clothe  each 
spirit  with  flesh,  we  could  easily  calculate  their 
numbers.  The  end  must  be  connected  with  the 
beginning,  for  the  beginning  naturally  proposes  to 
itself  an  end  ; and  thus  a beginning  is  merged  in  its 
end,  making  one  whole  destiny  of  a thing.  Thus,  in 
the  ultimate  destiny  of  the  world,  its  whole  past  his- 
tory is  involved.  Its  mode  of  dissolution,  therefore, 
comprises  all  in  relation  to  this  earthly  existence  of 
ours  ; and,  in  explaining  its  phenomena,  we  must  not 
lose  sight  of  this  fact. 

Thus  briefly  have  I sketched  the  substance  of  my 
views,  which  I hope,  if  I live  long,  to  develope  in 
detail  at  some  future  period  of  my  life.” 

Thus  Mr.  Drygrass  concluded,  with  his  counte- 
nance lighted  up  by  self-complacency.  I understand 
he  is  now  engaged  in  composing  an  epic  poem,  enti- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


117 


tied  “ The  Eternal  Dance  of  Atoms,”  where  he 
intends  to  unfold  his  views  fully.  I suppose  he 
hopes  to  give  us  a complete  system  of  the  laws  of 
nature. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

I am  tolerant  of  all  opinions,  when  maintained 
sincerely  and  without  conceit.  But  conceit  tires 
my  patience  as  much  as  modesty  pleases  me.  Yet 
I do  not  understand  speaking  of  one’s  self  with  great 
humility,  to  be  modesty ; it  is  an  untruth.  What  is 
commonly  called  modesty,  is  nothing  more  than  burn- 
ing incense  at  the  shrine  of  the  hearer’s  littleness,  in 
order  to  propitiate  his  favorable  opinion.  An  honest 
man  of  sense,  if  required,  can  speak  frankly  of  his 
own  merits  without  arrogance.  Can  we  suppose, 
that  a great  man,  who  must  be  a good  judge  of  the 
merits  of  others,  is  incapable  of  forming  a just  esti- 
mate of  himself?  This  would  be  denying  him  sense, 
the  very  thing  for  which  he  is  supposed  to  be  remark- 
able. One  need  not  seek  an  occasion  to  deliver  his 
opinion  of  himself,  but,  if  it  be  necessary,  as  an  up- 
right man,  he  must  speak  of  himself  with  candor, 
avoiding,  however,  exaggeration.  True  worth  is 
always  loth  to  thrust  its  merits  upon  others ; but,  if 
10 


118 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


it  be  undervalued,  it  has  a right  to  speak  in  its  own 
behalf. 

Mr.  Drygrass  is  one  of  that  class  of  men,  some- 
what numerous  at  present,  who  think  they  can  solve, 
by  the  unaided  light  of  their  own  minds,  any  ques- 
tion in  philosophy  or  religion.  With  sacrilegious 
hands  they  lay  hold  of  every  thing  that  is  esteemed 
sacred  among  men.  Although  I have  no  regard  for 
any  antiquated  authority,  that  does  not  rest  its  claims 
on  reason,  yet  it  is  painful  to  me  to  see  young 
men,  who  have  scarcely  left  their  nurses  leading- 
strings,  impiously  assail  opinions  merely  because 
they  are  of  ancient  repute.  Some,  with  ill-furnished 
minds,  others  with  barren  hearts,  embark  in  search 
of  truth  ! What  presumption,  what  impiety  ! The 
first  of  all  requisites,  in  looking  after  truth,  is  purity 
of  heart ; then  an  enlightened  mind.  But  we  can- 
not always  attain  truth  by  the  light  of  our  own  mind ; 
we  must  also  study  what  others  have  thought.  As 
it  is  easier  for  us  to  ascend  an  eminence  by  a flight 
of  steps,  built  by  other  than  our  own  hands,  and  then 
add  a step  more  to  command  a still  wider  view,  than 
to  perform  all  this  labor  by  ourselves;  so  is  it  easier 
in  the  world  of  thought,  after  running  over  those  of 
others,  to  add  one  of  our  own,  and  thus  place  our- 
selves at  a still  shorter  distance  from  truth,  than  to 
reach  it  by  the  efforts  of  our  single  mind.  If  we 
disclaim  the  use  of  the  labors  of  others,  then  we  must 
expect  to  remain  ever  mere  beginners  in  knowledge. 
Other  men’s  thoughts,  if  studied,  impart  a vigor  to 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


119 


our  own,  by  which  we  are  enabled  to  discover  more 
easily  the  weak  side  of  a question.  The  rashness  of 
these  young  speculators  is  not  greater  than  that  of 
an  unfledged  swallow  would  be,  which  would  leave 
its  nest,  perched  on  a lofty  cliff,  to  assert  its  freedom. 
They  seem  also  to  lack  a balance-wheel  to  regulate 
their  minds.  When  inflated  with  one  idea,  they  rush 
headlong  to  its  utmost  consequences ; for  it  grows  in 
their  heads  to  the  total  exclusion  of  all  others.  They 
can  see  but  one  thing  at  a time,  for  their  mental 
vision  is  so  limited,  and  they  come  so  close  to  a sub- 
ject, that  its  extent  always  reaches  beyond  their  usual 
circle.  A clear-sighted  mind,  perceives  that  the 
laws  of  nature  are  like  the  warp  and  woof  in  a tex- 
ture ; they  cross  and  recross  each  other,  and  though 
apparently  mutually  limited,  still  the  same  threads 
run  through  the  whole.  Thus,  in  following  out  a 
particular  truth,  we  must  not  overlook  the  fact,  that 
it  may  be  limited  or  modified  by  some  other  one, 
although  never  severed  from  the  rest. 

While  I speak  against  those  heedless  speculators, 
I do  not  assail  the  spirit  of  independent  inquiry. 
Freedom  of  thought  is  as  necessary  to  the  growth 
of  the  soul,  as  the  free  inhalation  of  the  air  to  the 
health  of  the  body.  Truth  can  luxuriate  only  in 
freedom.  But,  while  aiming  at  freedom,  we  must 
beware  of  licentiousness,  lest  we  fall  victims  to  our 
passions.  Press  onward,  yet  press  ever  with  a cau- 
tious step.  Mistrust  of  one’s  own  powers  is  the 
proof  of  wisdom,  while  anxiety  for  progress  is  the 


120 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


token  of  nobleness  of  soul ; these,  both  combined, 
will  most  surely  lead  one  to  the  fulfillment  of  glori- 
ous hopes. 

The  last,  though  not  the  least  prominent  peculi- 
arity of  these  men  is,  their  constant  striving  at  orig- 
inality, which  not  unfrequently  makes  them  fall  into 
absurdities.  Mistaking  often  the  meaning  of  true 
originality,  they  miss  their  mark.  What  is  more 
original  than  the  uncommon  thing,  common  sense? 
The  cultivation  of  it  is  the  only  path  which  leads  to 
an  originality  worth  possessing.  M^hat  is  the  highest 
genius,  if  not  common  sense  extended  to  all  depart- 
ments of  human  knowledge?  Partial  genius  is  a 
partial  application  of  the  same  to  a particular  knowl- 
edge. What  perceives  fitness  of  things  in  the  ordi- 
nary course  of  life,  will,  if  borne  to  higher  regions, 
perceive  the  same  there ; and  there  will  reveal  to  the 
ordinary  minds,  beauties  after  beauties,  whose  vast- 
ness is  known  only  to  God.  Common  sense,  then, 
appreciates  the  fitness  of  things,  or  beauty  of  truth, 
in  ordinary  life ; genius  takes  cognizance  of  the 
beauty  of  an  individual  truth,  and  its  fitness  to  all 
others  in  a higher  sphere.  Genius,  then,  is  but  more 
expanded  common  sense,  and  its  originality  is  but  a 
farther  reaching  career  in  the  discovery  of  universal 
beauty  and  the  connexion  of  all  truths.  But  com- 
mon sense,  without  losing  its  general  characteristics, 
becomes  individual,  and  thus  looks  upon  all  things 
from  its  particular  position ; and  hence  its  original- 
ity, or  the  individual  coloring  of  the  objects  which 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


121 


it  may  happen  to  contemplate.  Precisely  the  same 
kind  of  originality  does  genius  manifest,  only  in  a 
higher  degree,  or  on  more  lofty  themes. 

The  human  mind  can  take  cognizance  of  but  a 
few  things;  consequently  there  will  be  but  very 
few,  who  will  be  so  favored  as  to  discover  remark- 
ably new  truth ; the  rest  of  mankind  must  live,  from 
generation  to  generation,  on  the  same  ideas,  only 
differently  served  up.  We  then  have  no  right  to 
expect,  from  the  greatest  minds,  any  other  originality 
than  that  which  consists  in  breathing  a new  life  into 
old  ideas — the  life  of  an  individual  mind.  Goethe, 
(though  not  in  precisely  the  same  words,)  defines 
genius  to  be  the  mind  that  assimilates  all  to  itself, 
and  then  reproduces  it  anew.  This  definition  ap- 
pears to  me  to  be  correct,  and  it  corresponds  with 
the  view  I take,  of  common  sense,  genius,  and  origi- 
nality. He  who  cultivates  his  common  sense  will, 
in  the  end,  find  himself  possessed  of  a greater  fund 
of  originality,  than  he  who  catches  at  novelty,  mis- 
taking it  for  originality.  Novelty  is  of  doubtful  con- 
nexion, while  originality  is  always  related  to  truth. 
Novelty  is  ephemeral ; originality  is  as  enduring  as 
truth  itself. 

But  enough  of  Mr.  Drygrass  and  his  like.  I leave 
to  you  to  make  such  farther  comments  upon  the 
man,  as  the  incongruous  naturalness  of  his  charac- 
ter can  suggest  to  you.  These  principal  traits  are 
amply  sufficient,  I am  sure,  to  furnish  you  with  ma- 
terials for  reflection.  I prefer  to  return  to  the  house, 
10* 


122 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


where  I found  Mr.  Drygrass,  and  report  to  you  the 
conversation  which  naturally  followed,  after  he  stated 
his  views,  as  it  will  show  you,  in  a new  aspect,  him 
in  whom  you  are  so  much  interested. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Some  one  of  the  company  present,  expressed  his 
fears  that  our  literature  would  suffer  from  these  half- 
crude notions  that  are  fast  crowding  within  its  pre- 
cincts. Constrain  not,  said  Mr.  Stanley,  the  activ- 
ity of  intellect,  of  which  you  complain,  but  rather 
endeavor  to  direct  it  as  far  as  lies  in  your  power. 
Trust  to  truth  alone,  for  it  shall  prevail  even  against 
man.  Truth,  like  the  sun,  may  be  clouded  for  a 
while,  unto  the  darkness  even,  but  sooner  or  later  it 
brings  again  its  day-light  to  men,  to  show  that  God 
has  not  abandoned  his  creatures.  As  the  chaff  is 
driven  before  the  wind,  so  all  novelties  are  borne  on 
the  current  of  time  into  oblivion  ; but  truth,  like  the 
grain,  falls  to  the  ground,  takes  root  and  flourishes. 
So  does  time  purify  literature. 

Literature  is  a temple,  the  portals  of  which  are 
thrown  open  to  all  worshippers ; the  faithful  and  the 
pharasaical.  On  its  altars  all  may  burn  their  sacri- 
fices ; but  the  flames  of  sincere  offerings  only  ascend 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


123 


heavenward,  for  they  are  kindled  by  celestial  fire. 
He  who  frequents  this  temple,  to  burn  devoutly  his 
offerings,  finds  a healing  balsam  for  the  wounds  that 
the  pitiless  world  may  inflict.  There  you  can  com- 
mune with  the  spirits  of  our  greatest  sires  with  per- 
fect freedom,  Dante,  Shakspeare,  and  the  fantas- 
tic giant  Jean  Paul  Richter,  will  welcome  you  as  if 
you  were  their  bosom  friend.  Many  lesser  spirits 
will  crowd  around  you,  all  courting  your  friendship. 
Many  come  there  to  inscribe  their  names  on  the 
walls;  but  the  sweeping  hand  of  time  touches  them 
with  its  finger,  and  all  that  are  unworthy,  disappear 
like  cobwebs;  only  the  elect  remain.  But  who  are 
the  elect?  The  great,  who  heed  not  the  clamors  of 
the  present;  who  do  not  throw  sweet  though  poi- 
soned morsels  to  the  self-idolizing  public,  to  feed  its 
morbid  appetite,  but  who  dare  to  live  and  speak  their 
own  honest  convictions  in  despite  of  its  opinions ; 
who  cast  the  bread  of  their  own  life  on  the  distant 
waters  of  the  future,  that  coming  generations  may  not 
hunger  after  spiritual  food.  Sing,  ye  sincere  hearts, 
from  the  depths  of  your  purity,  regardless  equally  of 
the  applause  and  the  frown  of  the  present ! Your 
songs,  like  the  shepherd’s  voice  in  the  majestic 
Alps,  shall  reecho  a thousand  times  in  the  hearts  of 
posterity. 

Literature  is  the  biography  of  the  inner  man, 
faithfully  recorded  by  the  race.  His  joys,  his  sor- 
rows, and  even  his  hopes  are  put  down  there,  as 
individuals  and  nations  pass  off  the  stage  of  life.  To 


124 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


him,  who  knows  how  to  study  it,  it  is  replete  with 
wisdom  to  direct  his  life-career.  Happy  is  he  who 
has  early  acquired  a taste  for  it ! for  it  will  be  a 
solace  to  him,  even  when  all  the  other  stars  of  his 
life  sink  below  the  horizon.  When  the  chill  of  age 
shall  repel  from  him  his  worldly  friends ; when  his 
eyes  shall  look  with  indifference  upon  the  scenes 
around  him,  still  he  may  withdraw  into  the  dominion 
of  literature,  and  there  bury  the  body  alive,  that  the 
spirit  may  live,  and  be  as  happy  as  it  is  possible  for 
its  longing  nature  to  be.  For,  after  all,  is  there  any 
greater  happiness  for  a rational  being,  than  the  en- 
joyment of  thought,  produced  by  himself  or  others? 
It  is  illimitable,  imperishable,  while  all  other  enjoy- 
ments are  short-lived  and  alloyed  with  pain.  Thought 
must  be  the  enjoyment  of  heavenly  spirits;  and  if 
man  may  presume  to  surmise  the  pleasures  of  Divin- 
ity itself,  it  is  God’s  enjoyment  also.  God’s  thought 
is  creative ; but  that  of  his  creatures  is  divining  only 
his  creation,  and  in  so  much  creative  also — creative 
of  the  shadow  of  God’s  realities.  He,  among  men, 
who  creates  anew  most,  enjoys  most ; and  he  is  the 
greatest  among  them  whose  thoughts  are  the  greatest. 
Mark  only  a great  man’s  thoughts,  and  see  in  what 
grandeur  they  will  appear  to  you.  W’ith  one  effort 
he  creates  so  luminous  a thought,  that  it  developes 
itself  in  a thousand  shades.  He  shows  you  only  a 
parent  thought,  but  you  perceive,  if  you  have  eyes, 
in  the  back  ground,  its  numerous  progeny  in  attend- 
ance. You  can  take  it,  and  with  the  help  of  your 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


125 


own  light,  you  can  bring  this  retiring  brood  into  the 
fore-ground,  that  common  minds  may  gaze  upon 
them  also.  Such  is  the  peculiarity  of  great  minds ; 
and  this  is  the  only  true  standard  by  which  intellec- 
tual greatness  should  be  measured.  Only  such  men 
live  for  posterity,  while  the  numerous  tribe  of  bab- 
blers, whose  words  are  hollow  sounds,  die  with  the 
gossip  of  a day.  In  our  times,  when  we  boast  so 
much  of  printing,  these  prattlers  may  be  said  to  live 
in  a golden  era,  for  the  printing-press  can  keep  up 
with  the  volubility  of  their  tongues ; and  there  is  no 
greater  pleasure  to  some  minds  than  being  heard. 
We  have  too  much  printing.  Once  it  was  a blessing, 
but  now  it  is  fast  becoming  a curse ; for  our  minds 
suffer  from  the  surfeit  of  raw  materials,  which  the 
press  throws  in  haste  upon  our  literary  tables.  It  is 
not  the  quantity,  but  the  quality  of  food  that  nour- 
ishes the  soul.  We  read  much,  but  our  reading  is 
worth  little.  Now  and  then  a precious  book  comes 
out,  but  the  most  precious  often  lie  on  shelves,  gar- 
nished profusely  with  dust  and  cobwebs. 

The  course  of  the  wise,  at  all  times,  is  to  make 
the  best  of  the  circumstances  of  the  present  moment  ; 
so,  while  we  cannot  control  this  flood  of  printing, 
we  must  endure  it,  and  exercise  our  discrimination 
in  the  choice  of  reading.  We  live  amidst  the  deaf- 
ening clamor  of  literary  mountebanks,  who,  crying 
up  their  tinsel  wares,  dupe  the  indiscriminating,  and 
win  “ golden  opinions”  of  the  public ; while  the  true 
man,  shrouded  in  modesty,  waits  in  seclusion  till 


126 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


more  generous  posterity  calls  him  to  a seat  among 
the  peers  of  the  past.  Such  has  been  the  fate  of  our 
greatest  spirits.  Posterity  is  the  only  court  of  errors 
to  which  true  merit  can  safely  appeal.  There,  false 
glitter  fades ; party  distinctions,  and  sectarian  pre- 
dilections weigh  naught.  But  it  is  in  vain  to  declaim 
against  mountebanks,  for  they  are  an  indestructible 
race;  they  have  always  flourished,  and  they  ever 
will ; not  unlike  grass  that  ever  renews  itself  after 
being  mowed  down.  The  only  way  of  diminishing 
their  number,  is  to  increase  that  of  sincere  men,  true 
lovers  of  literature.  This,  however,  is  a work  of 
time  and  perseverance.  Inspire  the  young,  while 
yet  their  hearts  gush  with  generous  sentiments,  with 
love  for  literature  for  its  own  sake,  and  not  for  the 
sake  of  utilitarian  views.  If  man’s  pursuits  are  to 
be  valued  by  no  higher  standard  than  that  of  mere 
utility,  then  he  may  surely  become  a luxurious  brute. 
In  literature,  one  should  see  something  which  can 
administer  to  his  higher  wants,  and  which  he  must 
approach  in  purity  of  heart.  To  the  true  lover  of 
it,  devotion  to  literature  is  synonymous  with  striving 
at  perfection ; for  he  considers  it  to  be  the  crucible 
for  the  purification  of  the  human  heart,  at  the  bottom 
of  which  freedom,  faith,  and  goodness,  are  kept  as 
the  residuum  of  the  noble  metal.  How  delightful  is 
it  to  see  a man  moulded  by  the  highest  influences  of 
literature ! Noble  in  intellect,  noble  in  heart,  ele- 
gant inwardly,  elegant  outwardly — a truly  literary 
man  ! Such  a man,  when  contrasted  with  the  oppo- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


127 


site  species,  whose  outward  and  inward  roughness  is 
redeemed  only  by  great  intellectual  powers,  is  like 
the  brilliant  set  in  gold,  to  the  diamond  imbedded  in 
lead.  The  latter  offends  us,  in  spite  of  its  innate 
noble  attributes,  the  former  fascinates  and  illumines. 
If  the  young  be  imbued  with  such  sentiments  in 
respect  to  literature,  as  they  grow  mature,  we  should 
soon  have  a sufficient  number  of  worthy  literary 
men,  who  would  unmask  the  hollow-hearted  mounte- 
banks, who,  at  present,  but  too  often  govern  public 
opinion. 

In  the  literature  of  a society,  we  always  find  a 
more  or  less  correct  delineation  of  its  character;  for 
it  is,  in  a measure,  the  reflection  of  its  mind.  The 
prominent  virtues  of  a society,  will  give  a particular 
complexion  to  its  literature,  as  much  as  their  absence 
may  leave  it  characterless.  As  there  are  individuals 
remarkable  for  possessing  no  characteristic  features, 
there  may  be  societies  of  this  description,  and  hence 
their  literature  must  be  of  the  same  cast.  When 
literature  is  at  its  zenith,  it  mirrors  the  loftiest  ‘of 
social  virtues.  The  highest  virtues  of  society,  as 
such,  are  the  capacity  for  friendship,  the  love  of 
freedom,  and  patriotism.  These  are  the  most  ener- 
getic of  noble  motives,  that  can  actuate  the  human 
heart ; and  when  the  soul  is  possessed  by  these  emo- 
tions, it  carves  for  itself  in  eternity  an  imperishable 
monument  .of  its  greatness.  If  a nation  be  capable 
of  displaying,  in  her  actual  life,  these  lofty  qualities 
in  an  eminent  degree,  her  literature  will  be  sur- 


128 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


rounded  with  the  halo  of  these  gems  of  the  heart. 
Then  literature  may  be  said  to  have  reached  the 
pinnacle  of  glory,  and  the  nation  become  the  deni- 
zen of  the  race.  I know  no  literature,  no  nation, 
that  can  in  all  respects  claim  this  distinction ; there 
are,  however,  some  that  have  a partial  title  to  such 
a preeminence.  English  literature,  for  instance,  has 
this  partial  title  to  distinction ; for  it  is  strongly 
marked  by  the  spirit  of  freedom.  As  the  Anglo- 
Saxons  were  the  first  to  commence  the  battle  of 
freedom  of  the  race,  in  the  van  of  all  nations,  their 
literature  breathes  the  spirit  of  manly  independence, 
that  defies  all  satanic  powers,  that  would  trample 
upon  the  worth  and  dignity  of  man.  For  this  noble 
trait  alon-e,  I am  willing  to  overlook  its  faults:  it 
may  be  ivell  called  the  nursery  of  freedom.  The 
battle  of  the  freedom  of  the  race  is,  however,  not 
won ; much  human  blood  must  yet  be  sacrificed  to 
the  demon  of  power,  and  literature  has  yet  much  to 
do  to  help  the  happy  issue,  that  sooner  or  later  must 
come.  If  the  Anglo-Saxons  had  the  spirit  of  the 
master,  whose  banner  they  would  persuade  the  world 
they  follow,  and  knew  their  power,  and  would  neither 
lend  it  nor  use  it  themselves,  to  enchain  other  nations 
as  they  now  do,  the  race  would  gain  the  battle  soon- 
er and  at  less  cost. 

The  distinction,  which  should  characterize  litera- 
ture, is  not  easily  attainable,  if  ever,  unless  man  is 
ameliorated.  Indeed,  this  idea  would  even  appear  to 
many  to  be  Utopian ; for  what  does  the  world  know 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


129 


of  friendship,  freedom,  or  patriotism?  Nothing 
more  than  what  selfishness,  or,  to  be  more  polite, 
prudence  can  suggest. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Friendship  is  the  genial  heat  that  warms  the  soul 
under  all  the  blasting  trials  of  life.  Is  there  any 
thing  more  interesting  than  two  - steadfast  friends, 
journeying  through  the  perilous  path  of  life  ? Storms 
may  beat  upon  them,  and  sunshine  may  be  nigh  to 
scorch  their  souls ; selfishness  may  attempt  to  blind 
them,  and  envy  would  arm  their  hands ; yet,  as  an 
arrow  true  to  its  course  gains  its  goal,  so  they,  side 
by  side,  without  ever  crossing  each  other’s  path, 
keep  the  straight  and  parallel  line  to  their  jour- 
ney’s end.  True  friendship  in  this  life  is  the  symbol 
of  the  eternal  union  of  pure  spirits  in  the  life  to 
come.  It  is  a chain  which  encircles  two  souls,  and 
which,  however,  is  capable  of  yielding  to  an  inde- 
finite number,  if  each  new  comer  know  its  mystic 
spell.  A friend  makes  sacrifices  for  another,  without 
a murmur,  and  each  new  trial  draws  closer  the  sym- 
pathetic knot  that  binds  them.  Prosperity  or  reverse 
of  fortune,  are  mere  accidents  in  his  eyes,  and  count 
nought ; for  he  looks  at  the  worth  of  the  inner  man. 

11 


130 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


A man’s  soul  is  to  his  friend  like  the  unruffled  sur- 
face of  clear  water,  in  which  he  sees  a reflected 
image  of  himself,  although  no  other  can  see  it. 

Friend  and  friendship  are  on  the  lips  of  every  one, 
and  yet  but  few  understand  their  import.  It  is 
sacrilege  to  use  one  of  the  most  sacred  things  with- 
out  comprehending  its  meaning.  All  would  claim 
the  title  of  a friend,  yet  few  would  be  willing  to  pay 
its  price.  He  who  values  friendship  above  all  terres- 
trial things,  is  slow  to  break,  as  he  is  slow  to  enter 
into  its  bonds.  The  friendships  which  the  world 
daily  witnesses,  are  mere  cobweb-ties  made  by  the 
accident  of  following  the  same  career  of  business, 
pleasure,  or  vice.  True  friends  live  in  mutual  trust 
and  generous  sacrifice — things  the  world  utterly 
ignores.  Mean  spirits  are  incapable  of  true  friend- 
ships ; for  this  requires  great,  high-minded  souls. 
Friendship  is  so  rare  a thing  in  the  world,  because 
great  men  are  extremely  uncommon.  Great  men 
are  heroes,  and  friendship  may  become  the  highest 
form  of  heroism.  Although  friendship,  in  the  case 
of  the  two  sexes,  may  be  love,  yet  there  is  this  dif- 
ference between  them : love  often  is  blind-folded, 
but  friendship  keeps  her  eyes  wide  open,  and  has 
always  the  sanction  of  reason  for  her  shield.  Friend- 
ship does  not  require  an  entire  similitude  of  charac- 
ter, it  only  demands  one  central  point  of  contact  ; 
high-mindedness  is  that  pqint.  If  high-mindedness 
unite,  then,  friends  may  be  steadfast  to  each  other, 
although  in  all  else  they  may  diflfer.  When  I see  a 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


131 


youth  seeking  friendship  with  discrimination,  I fore- 
see the  nobleness  of  his  manhood ; for  this  sentiment 
is  an  efficient  purifier  of  the  human  heart.  If  parents 
would  fan  and  direct  the  pure  flame  of  friendship  in 
youth,  they  would  raise  a stronger  bulwark  against 
vice,  than  all  the  written  moral  codes  put  together. 

In  man’s  breast,  a strong  feeling,  after  a struggle, 
always  succeeds  in  the  end  in  finding  its  utterance. 
Friendship  thus  understood,  would  find  its  way  into 
life,  and  thence  into  literature,  where  it  would 
assume  its  appropriate  form.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  patriotism. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Patriotism,  with  contracted  hearts,  means  nothing 
more  than  selfishness  applied  to  the  concerns  of  a 
nation.  Such  a patriotism  is  a heathen,  but  not  a 
Christian  virtue.  The  patriotism  of  a generous  soul 
is  lawful  self-love,  regulating  the  affairs  of  state. 
Such  a patriotism  does  not  make  us  require  the  ruin 
of  another  nation,  that  ours  may  be  aggrandized. 
It  demands  justice  for  itself  and  others ; for  it  sees, 
in  all  nations,  equal  fellow'-beings.  It  does  not 
condescend  to  low  tricks  to  over-reach,  and  never 
takes  advantage  of  the  misfortunes  of  another  nation; 


132 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


for  it  shrinks  from  building  its  own  happiness  upon 
the  misery  of  others ; it  prefers  to  elevate  others  to 
its  own  level,  rather  than  to  degrade  them  in  order 
that  itself  may  seem  higher.  It  makes  us  ready  to 
repel  the  aggressors  of  our  country;  but,  that  done, 
it  constrains  the  victorious  arm.  It  contemns  the 
wily  politician,  (sometimes  dignified  by  the  name  of 
statesman,)  who  thinks  that  by  his  cunning  he  can 
secure  the  happiness  of  virtue,  and  the  peace  of 
society.  True  patriotism  inspires  us,  if  need  be, 
with  willingness  to  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  our 
country,  our  property  and  our  lives.  It  makes  us 
desire  that  one  part  of  our  countrymen  should  not 
oppress  another,  but  that  the  protection  of  the  law 
should  be  extended  equally  to  all,  and  that  the  in- 
terests of  all  should  be  impartially  consulted.  Al- 
though it  makes  us  willing  to  abandon  a part  of  our 
rights,  for  the  sake  of  the  harmony  of  all,  yet  it 
renders  us  jealous  if  an  arrogant  majority  presume 
to  retrench  capriciously  the  inalienable  rights  of  an 
individual ; for  justice  to  each  and  to  all,  is  its 
standard  measure  of  our  obligations  to  our  country. 

Patriotism,  while  it  commands  to  love  our  coun- 
try, does  not  require  of  us  blindness  to  its  faults: 
on  the  contrary,  it  incites  us  to  see  and  reprobate 
the  vices  and  follies  of  our  countrymen,  to  warn 
them  of  the  dangers  into  which  their  party-spirit 
may  plunge  the  nation,  and  to  show  that  the  love 
of  party  is  not  the  love  of  country.  As  a lover 
does  not  care  to  prove  by  arguments,  either  to  others 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


133 


or  to  himself,  that  his  beloved  deserves  his  admira- 
tion, so  a true  patriot  loves  his  country,  not  because 
it  may  be  superior  to  others,  but  because  it  is  his 
own.  If  it  be  not  high  in  the  scale  of  excellence, 
he  assiduously  labors  for  its  elevation ; and  if  it  be 
superior  to  other  nations,  he  rejoices,  but  is  not 
vain-glorious  of  its  superiority.  Anxious  to  know 
his  country’s  faults,  as  well  as  its  virtues,  a true 
patriot  does  not  shut  his  ear  entirely  to  what  its 
enemies  may  have  to  say,  for  he  is  aware  that  he 
can  frequently  learn  more  truth  from  the  mouth  of 
an  enemy,  than  from  a partial  friend ; and  in  this 
way  he  arrives  at  a more  just  appreciation  of  it. 
Indeed,  it  may  be  asserted  to  be  universally  true, 
that,  after  taking  one  look  at  ourselves  with  our  own 
eyes,  we  shall  see  ourselves  better,  if  we  borrow  our 
neighbor’s  glasses  to  take  another. 

To  love  one’s  country  does  not  mean  to  hate  or 
think  slightly  of  others ; nor  does  it  mean  to  make 
parade  of  its  virtues  on  all  occasions.  He  who  is 
vain  of  his  country,  appears  as  ridiculous  as  he  who 
is  vain  of  his  parentage  ; and  as  the  latter  does  little 
credit  to  his  family,  so  the  former  to  his  nation. 
There  is  a time,  however,  when  a man  is  permitted 
to  be  proud  of  his  country  ; but  then  he  speaks  of  it 
affectionately,  respectfully,  and  not  extravagantly; 
and  thus  he  will  be  sure  to  win  his  hearers’  respect 
for  both  himself  and  his  native  land.  A true  patriot 
knows  no  party,  for  he  studies  the  interests  of  his 
country  regardless  of  party.  He  who  cherishes  in 
11* 


134 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


his  breast  party-feeling,  is  a traitor  to  his  country. 
To  live  and  to  die  for  his  native  land,  is  the  only 
glory  that  a patriot  covets. 

As  a good  and  wise  father  is  more  anxious  to  ele- 
vate the  intellects  and  improve  the  hearts  of  his  chil- 
dren, than  to  endow  them  with  earthly  possessions, 
so  a patriot,  if  the  affairs  of  state  be  committed  to 
his  charge,  labors  more  for  the  spiritual  than  for  the 
material  elevation  of  his  people.  He  has  a lofty  idea 
of  perfection,  and  strives  to  realize  it  in  his  nation. 
In  framing  laws,  he  never  loses  sight  of  thai  idea ; 
and  thus  he  weighs  deliberately  their  spiritual  ten- 
dency. In  this  respect  the  ancient  lawgivers  were 
much  wiser  than  our  modern  legislators ; for  the 
former,  unskillfully  as  they  sometimes  aimed,  yet 
had  the  merit  of  having  some  definite  point  to  reach  ; 
but  the  latter,  it  seems  to  me,  go  on  legislating  at 
random,  always  expressing  more  solicitude  for  the 
animal  than  for  the  soul  of  a nation. 

Indeed,  notwithstanding  the  experience  of  ages, 
mankind  manifest  very  little  wisdom  in  the  admin- 
istration of  their  state  affairs.  We  know  not  yet, 
what  is  the  best  government ; what  is  the  best  poli- 
cy, foreign  and  domestic ; what  are  the  duties  of  a 
legislator,  or  what  is  the  object  of  laws,  and  the  obli- 
gations of  a citizen.  For  many  ages  nations  were 
taught  by  political  quacks,  that  cunning  is  the  true 
wisdom  of  a statesman,  that  selfishness  is  the  pre- 
serving principle  of  national  existence;  and  hence 
they  are  believed,  and  people  act  according  to  the 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


135 


precepts  of  their  masters.  What  is  the  policy  of 
nations,  if  not  a tissue  of  falsehoods  from  beginning 
to  end?  Hollow  professions  of  amity,  crafty  design- 
ings, blustering  protestations,  breaches  of  promises, 
characterize  the  intercourse  of  nations ; all  of  which 
is  enough  to  make  an  individual  the  wiliest  of  v'il- 
lains,  but  in  nations,  it  is  called  virtue  and  wisdom ! 
What  does  diplomacy  mean,  if  not  skill  in  deceiving 
nations?  All  this  flows  from  the  falsity  of  funda- 
mental principles.  It  is  imagined  that  the  code  of 
morals  for  national  intercouse  is  different  from  that 
which  is  required  for  the  intercourse  of  individuals. 
This  is  the  fatal  mistake  that  too  often  leads  to  wars, 
and  brings  calamities  upon  nations.  The  people 
must  not  look  for  peace  and  happiness  until  the 
identity  of  the  laws  that  bind  an  individual,  with 
those  that  prescribe  the  course  of  conduct  for  na- 
tions, be  recognized.  Although  this  begins  to  be 
felt,  yet  it  is  far  from  being  acted  out.  The  policy 
of  nations  is  far  from  being  straight ; it  is  crooked 
and  often  even  involuted,  and,  like  the  Gordian 
knot,  can  be  unraveled  only  by  the  sword ; this, 
sooner  or  later,  must  be  done  by  the  sword  of  free- 
dom. 

Taking  the  simplest  principles,  love  and  justice, 
for  guides,  it  seems  to  me,  it  is  possible  to  deline- 
ate a form  of  government,  prescribe  its  conduct,  and 
point  out  the  duties  of  a citizen  with  the  greatest 
ease  possible,  although  ages  have  not  been  able  to 
accomplish  this  task.  Nations  have  not  yet  acted 


136 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


fully  upon  these  principles,  either  towards  each  other, 
or  towards  their  own  citizens.  What  individuals 
are  to  a family,  families  are  to  a nation ; for  they 
grow  like  the  root  that  shoots  into  the  stem  and 
branches,  till  they  become  a solid  oak,  with  wide- 
spread boughs.  A well-regulated  family  is,  in  my 
estimation,  the  prototype  of  a well-governed  nation ; 
as  its  affectionate  members  are  that  of  worthy  citi- 
zens, The  duties,  which  a citizen  owes  to  his  family 
and  to  his  country,  are  nothing  more  than  the  duties 
which  he  owes  to  himself  and  to  his  family,  only  ex- 
tended to  their  farthest  limit ; they  are  like  an  exten- 
sion of  the  rays  proceeding  from  the  same  focus. 
As  it  is  a pleasant  duty  to  an  affectionate  father  to 
promote  the  happiness  of  his  family,  so  is  it  agreea- 
ble to  a worthy  citizen  to  devote  himself  to  the 
weal  of  his  country.  The  outward  form  of  govern- 
ment may  vary  to  suit  the  wants  and  capacities  of 
its  people,  as  fashions  in  dress  change  to  suit  the 
taste  and  convenience  of  the  wearer ; but  the  spirit 
of  its  parental  duties  is  ever  the  same,  although  it 
is  seldom  consulted,  even  by  the  most  enlightened 
nations. 

It  is  according  to  these  views,  that  I consider  that 
the  honorable  love  of  one’s  self  and  family,  when  ex- 
tended to  one’s  country,  becomes  patriotism,  the 
glorious  virtue  capable  of  exalting  one’s  life.  It  is 
such  a patriotism  that  makes  one  steer  steadfastly 
his  course,  enlightened  by  principles,  amidst  the  din 
of  parties,  regardless  of  their  clamors  of  inconsis- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


137 


tency.  What  a folly  to  think  that  a sincere  and  en- 
lightened man,  can  go  with  a party  ! A party  may 
go  with  him,  but  he  seldom  with  it.  He  never 
changes ; he  pursues  the  light  of  principles,  which 
never  misleads,  although  now  it  is  out  of  sight  of 
one  party,  and  now  of  the  other.  A party  is  never 
clear-sighted  ; it  grows  blind  as  it  becomes  a party. 
As  the  mariner  obeys  his  compass,  so  a true  man 
changes  his  position  according  to  the  light  of  prin- 
ciples that  each  coming  day  may  throw  upon  his 
path.  He  is  consistent  with  himself,  although  he 
may  not  appear  so  to  the  short-sighted  ; for  he  fol- 
low's the  same  immutable  guide,  the  force  of  divine 
light,  promised  to  each  earnest  heart.  It  is  such  pa- 
triotism as  this,  that  should  mould  and  animate  lite- 
rature, which,  breathing  a new  life  into  each  coming 
generation,  would  lead  nations  to  the  love  of  the 
true,  the  good,  and  the  beautiful. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  human  soul  is  ever  craving  after  something 
which  is  beyond  the  power  of  expression ; now  it  is 
the  beautiful,  now  tbe  true,  and  then  the  good;  now 
all  this,  and  now  neither,  but  something  still  higher. 
She  puts  forth  her  energies  to  find  this  inexpressible 


138 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


something,  in  the  outward  world,  in  literature — the 
world  of  thought — and  her  longings  are  but  partially 
appeased.  She  is  then  driven  back  upon  herself  to 
seek  peace  in  faith  that  nourishes  hope,  in  love  that 
warms,  in  charity  that  endures,  in  freedom  that  ex- 
pands. Man  finds,  at  last,  that  he  cannot  rest  at 
ease,  unless  he  is  born  in  faith,  baptized  by  love, 
confirmed  by  charity,  and  rocked  in  freedom. 

With  the  dawn  of  his  intellect,  man  begins  to 
learn  his  weakness ; the  outward  overpowers  his 
senses  with  its  mysteriousness.  The  howling  wind, 
the  roaring  cataract,  whispers  to  him  aloud  of  some 
hidden  power  which  he  cannot  comprehend.  He 
asks  of  the  woods  whence  they  came ; of  the  brook, 
who  traced  its  course  ; of  the  mountains,  who  reared 
them  so  proudly ; of  the  rocks,  who  rivetted  them 
in  their  base ; and  none  answer  him.  He  interro- 
gates nature,  whence  does  he  come,  and  whether 
does  he  go ; did  he  spring  from  the  earth’s  bosom 
like  tbe  blade  of  grass,  and,  like  it,  must  he  perish  ? 
All  is  mute;  nature  is  deaf  to  his  inquiries.  He 
grows  confused,  he  seeks  a safe  anchorage,  and  he 
totters ; for  all  seems  to  recede  from  beneath  his 
feet.  Finally,  exhausted,  he  abandons  himself,  and 
is  ready  to  sink  into  nothing.  When  thus  made 
passive,  and  bewildered,  he  hears  a voice;  “Arise 
and  stand  up  ! the  Power  above  has  not  abandoned 
you.”  The  voice  of  faith  rouses  him.  He  now 
finds  his  moorings ; faith  alone  is  his  anchor,  with 
which  alone  he  can  ride  the  storms  of  doubt  and 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


139 


despondency.  The  weak  light  of  reason  now  flashes, 
and  now  grows  dim,  and  his  path  fades  away  from 
before  him.  Faith  alone  leads  him  through  this 
black  chasm,  till  he  sees  again  the  glimmer  of  light 
playing  at  a distance ; but  soon  it  vanishes  once 
more,  and  he  is  again  left  to  his  trusty  guide.  Thus 
does  man  grope  along  the  path  of  life  ! 

Reason  would  use  its  understanding  to  build  sys- 
tems, and  convert  them  into  one  complete  whole; 
but  it  soon  ascertains  its  incapacity  for  the  task.  It 
cannot  look  into  the  depth  of  nature,  nor  survey  its 
breadth  and  height ; it  cannot  penetrate  into  the 
counsels  of  God.  What  do  those  Divine  Doctors, 
who  hammer  systems  and  creeds  out  of  their  thick 
skulls,  for  the  vulgar  to  accept,  know?  Conceit 
only  makes  the  difference  between  them ; otherwise 
they  are  equal.  The  wisest  succeed  in  learning 
that  they  are  as  foolish  as  the  most  of  men.  Fling 
your  systems  away,  but  light  your  faith  by  reason  as 
much  as  you  can.  Set  down  each  fact  you  behold 
in  the  light  you  see  it,  caring  not  whether  they  are 
connected  or  not.  There  may  be  a time  when  you 
shall  see  their  connection ; but,  if  not,  rest  assured 
that  God  has  connected  them,  although  you  do  not 
know  how.  Meanwhile  let  your  faith  fill  up  the 
intervening  space  which  you  call  their  isolation. 
Faith  is  the  sustenance  of  the  soul.  You  may 
learn  this  from  the  comparison  of  the  lives  of  the 
libertine  and  the  good.  When  faith  is  overlaid  by 
ignorance,  man  is  prone  to  superstition ; yet  this 


140 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


proneness  proves  that  faith  is  the  essential  element 
of  the  human  soul,  as  it  never  dies.  Faith  is  the 
beacon  of  the  race.  But  faith  must  go  with  her  sis- 
ter, love — love  for  God  and  man. 

Faith  is  the  interpreter,  love  is  the  fulfillment  of 
the  law.  He,  who  walks  in  faith  and  love,  walks 
securely  and  with  a radiant  countenance.  God 
will  entrust  him  with  some  of  his  mysteries.  They 
who  have  faith  and  love,  and  live  by  them,  be  they 
foolish  or  wise,  are  on  the  same  level  in  the  sight  of 
God;  for  wisdom  resolves  itself  into  faith,  and  love 
and  ignorance  is  redeemed  by  them.  Thus  the 
foolish  and  the  wise  are  led  through  the  same  en- 
trance into  the  presence  of  the  Creator.  This  is  a 
proof  of  His  unspeakable  goodness  ; for,  what  could 
the  great  mass  of  men,  who  are  enveloped  in  igno- 
rance, hope?  Faith  and  love  illumine  their  path, 
although  they  cannot  account  for  their  light  scienti- 
fically. They  do  not  reason  about  it.  In  fact  there 
is  no  reasoning  concerning  it.  Man,  who  feels  these 
religious  sentiments,  cares  not  for  reasoning.  The 
wisest,  when  they  attempt  to  explain  them,  lose 
themselves  in  the  confusion  of  their  ideas.  Blessed 
be  God,  that  neither  the  present  nor  the  future 
happiness  of  man  depends  on  the  expounders  of  His 
will ! 

But  faith  and  love  must  be  accompanied  by  char- 
ity, for  she  testifies  to  the  genuineness  of  her  sisters. 
Charity  makes  us  look  with  compassion  upon  the 
follies  and  vices  of  the  race,  without,  however,  pal- 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


141 


liating  them.  Charity  overcomes  the  wicked  by 
mildness.  Charity  is  winning,  not  imperative.  She 
is  not  arrogant ; she  does  not  dare  to  pronounce 
upon  the  demerits  of  a weak  creature ; she  leaves  it 
to  God,  who  knows  the  secrets  of  the  heart.  She 
condemns  not,  for  she  is  not  made  a judge,  but  a 
guide.  Charity  invites  us,  but  leaves  us  free  to  fol- 
low her  or  not ; for  she  knows  that  freedom  is  the  es- 
sential condition  of  merit.  But  of  freedom,  as  of 
charity,  we  have  yet  much  to  learn. 

The  spirit  of  persecution  for  opinion’s  sake,  has 
not  been  drowned  in  the  flood  of  blood,  which  it  has 
once  shed ; it  is  alive  even  now,  only  it  has  put  on  a 
new  garb,  and  changed  its  appetite.  It  is  a mel- 
ancholy proof  of  human  weakness ! Ages  are  not 
enough  to  teach  mankind  the  reason  of  the  differ- 
ence of  opinion  amongst  men ! Priests  and  kings 
thought  themselves  divinely  authorized  to  prescribe 
and  demand  a uniformity  of  opinion  among  their 
people,  in  matters  of  religion  ! If  they,  and  not  the 
heart  of  mankind,  were  the  only  guardians  of  truth 
and  religion,  God  would  have  to  abdicate  his  throne, 
and  religion  flee  into  deserts ; for  falsehood  would 
reign  over  this  world.  It  is  indeed  ridiculous  to  see 
one  require  freedom  for  himself,  and  yet  not  be 
willing  that  his  neighbors  should  enjoy  it  also.  Peo- 
ple think  that  their  wisdom  will  keep  them  from  the 
dangers  incident  to  freedom ; but  their  neighbors, 
poor  souls!  may  succumb.  If  you  be  faithful  to 
truth  yourself,  rest  assured  that  you  cannot  render 
12 


142 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


your  neighbor  a better  service ; for,  keeping  yourself 
from  the  evils  of  license,  you  guard  him  from  them 
also. 

Why  did  God  give  each  of  us  a head  of  our  owm 
to  guide  and  direct  our  movements  ? He  might  have 
given  mankind  one  universal  director,  if  he  wished 
we  should  think  all  alike  without  the  least  deviation. 
Indeed,  he  has  given  each  of  us  the  capacity  of 
recognizing  truth,  but  yet  he  is  pleased  to  graduate 
that  capacity.  If  our  physical  and  moral  man  were 
perfect,  we  should  think  more  alike ; but  since  our 
physical  organizations  are  so  variously  imperfect, 
our  moral  constitutions  are  modified  by  them ; and 
hence,  unavoidably,  must  follow  the  difference  of 
of  opinions,  which  is  still  increased  by  good  or  bad 
education.  Here  is  then  the  ground  upon  which 
each  of  us  has  the  right  of  demanding  and  defending 
the  privilege  of  the  freedom  of  thought,  granted  to 
us  by  nature.  All  that  we  have  a right  to  require 
of  each  other,  is  the  sincerity  of  convictions.  Sin- 
cerity is  the  only  check  which  God  has  laid  upon 
our  spiritual  freedom,  and  by  which  only  man  must 
be  judged  in  matters  of  opinion.  Such  sincerity, 
joined  to  unexceptionable  purity  of  conduct,  exempts 
man  from  all  human  tribunals. 

All  men  are  able  to  understand  the  essential  points 
of  moral  obligations  upon  which  the  order  and  hap- 
piness of  society  depends ; and  all  are  bound  to 
submit  to  them  without  reserve.  If  men  avoid  these 
duties,  society  has  a right  to  call  them  to  account. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


143 


on  the  ground  of  injuries  done  to  it.  But,  strange 
to  say,  it  is  not  these  men  who  have  to  expiate  their 
conduct ; it  is  those  who  dare  to  think  for  them- 
selves, that  have  to  bear  the  ire  of  the  public,  al- 
though their  life  may  sometimes  be  spotless ! 

The  best  and  wisest  of  men  agree  as  to  the  course 
of  life  to  be  followed,  but  they  differ  in  their  specu- 
lative opinions.  Should  not  this  fact  teach  us  hu- 
mility and  forbearance  ? The  way  of  the  heart  is 
plainly  pointed  out  to  us  all,  but  that  of  the  head  is 
left  rough  and  indefinite.  It  is,  therefore,  more  im- 
portant that  the  heart  be  right  than  the  head.  If  we 
^are  capable  of  watching  the  painful  process  of  the 
change  of  opinions  in  our  own  bosoms,  we  may  learn 
to  treat  tenderly  the  thought-lacerated  hearts  of 
others.  It  is  an  instinctive  impulse  with  man  to 
assert  his  freedom  of  body  and  mind ; and  this 
instinct  may  be  subdued,  yet  never  annihilated,  by 
the  force  of  outward  circumstances.  Acting  force 
calls  forth  reacting  resistance.  And  thus  many 
minds,  who  would  acquiesce  in  received  opinions, 
resist  them,  because  of  their  being  forced  upon  them, 
caring  more  for  the  privilege  of  free  thought  than 
for  the  justness  of  those  opinions.  Leave  man  free 
to  walk  alone  on  the  path  of  thought,  and  he  will 
soon  enough  look,  like  a child,  for  a support  for  his 
tottering  gait.  Be  assured  that  it  is  a hard  and 
unavoidable  lot  of  each  of  us  to  walk  alone.  Other 
people’s  thoughts  avail  us  naught  unless  they  become 
ours  by  free  adoption.  The  safety  of  the  race,  as 


144 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


much  as  of  individuals,  lies  in  the  free  exercise  of 
thought ; any  attempt  at  artificial  restraint  of  it,  is 
fraught  with  danger  to  both.  The  public  often  con- 
stitute themselves  judges  of  this  freedom,  but,  unfortu- 
nately, they  are  the  least  fit  to  pronounce  in  matters 
of  opinion ; for  prejudice  and  want  of  reflection,  uni- 
versally characterize  their  verdicts.  An  enlightened 
public  should  demand  of  its  members  a strict  up- 
rightness of  conduct ; but,  as  for  their  opinions,  they 
must  be  left  to  be  judged  by  the  Highest.  Man  will 
never  be  able  to  attain  the  height  of  eminence 
unless  he  be  free;  freedom  is  the  eagle’s  wing  that 
can  carry  him  thither. 

Thus  it  is  that  in  freedom,  through  faith,  love, 
and  charity,  man  can  attain  that  inward  peace,  with- 
out which  this  world  is  but  a den  of  misery.  Then 
he  will  find  the  indissoluble  union  of  the  beautiful, 
the  good,  and  the  true,  to  live  which,  is  to  pursue 
his  happiness.  Having  thus  concluded,  Mr.  Stanley 
was  followed  by  such  remarks  from  tlie  company 
present,  as  were  suggested  by  his  ideas,  but  which 
it  is  not  important  to  repeat  to  you. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


145 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

I believe  I have  thus  drawTi  for  you  Mr.  Stanley’s 
portrait  in  full  length.  You  will  not  fail  to  see  in 
it  the  man  whose  life  is  devoted  to  the  praise  of  his 
Maker  and  to  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-creatures. 
To  seek  the  ideal  and  harmonize  it  into  actual  life, 
is  his  constant  effort,  as  it  is  his  duty  and  pleasure. 
There  can  be  no  greater  satisfaction  than  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  lived  a useful  life.  If  any  man, 
certainly  he  is  justly  entitled  to  this  satisfaction. 
His  country  owes  him  gratitude ; for  he  is  a dis- 
criminating seedsman,  that  from  his  quiet  retreat 
scatters  the  seed  of  civic  virtues.  His  life  is  like 
the  course  of  a brook,  which,  quietly  meandering 
through  the  plain,  imparts  its  vivifying  influence  to 
the  green  banks.  He  lives  contented,  and  diffusing 
contentment  around  him.  He  has  renounced  all 
ambitious  views  but  one ; and  that  one,  how  noble ! 
The  highest  ambition,  says  he,  and  that  which  can 
be  easily  gratified,  should  be  to  bring  up  our  chil- 
dren in  the  love  of  the  ideal.  This  he  calls  multi- 
plying one’s  own  happiness  in  his  children.  That 
he  has  thus  multiplied  his  own  happiness  and  secured 
that  of  his  children,  cannot  be  questioned.  He  has 
even  guarded  them  from  the  reverses  of  fortune ; for, 
in  case  of  necessity,  the  skill  which  each  of  his 
12* 


146 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


children  possesses,  in  one  or  other  of  the  fine  arts, 
may  enable  them  to  gain  an  honorable  living. 

Rud.  I grant  that,  in  Mr.  Stanley,  you  have 
painted  in  vivid  colors,  the  ideal  man ; but  you  have 
not  done  it  completely ; for  you  have  drawn  merely 
the  inner  man.  Now  I wish  you  would  sketch  him,  so 
that  if  he  should  appear  in  my  company  for  a while, 
I may  be  able  to  identify  him  at  sight.  I believe 
that  the  outward  indicates,  more  or  less,  the  inward  ; 
and,  furthermore,  I maintain  that  superior  minds 
should  harmonize  the  outward  with  the  inward.  If 
I perceive  a flaw  in  the  outward  man,  I expect  that 
something  must  be  wrong  in  the  inward.  A pleas- 
ing exterior,  always  makes  you  expect  something 
interesting  beneath  it.  A prepossessing  appearance 
is  like  a letter  of  introduction  from  a friend,  with 
which  letter  the  wisest  and  the  best  need  not  scorn 
to  be  provided. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Con.  If  I understand  you  aright,  you  wish  to  be 
told  of  Mr.  Stanley’s  personal  appearance,  and  his 
manners  in  social  intercourse.  It  cannot  be  other- 
wise, than  that  all  the  externals  of  well-bred  people 
are  to  be  found  in  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley.  I do  not 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


147 


mean  to  enter  upon  the  details  of  these  externals, 
but  I will  endeavor  to  comply  with  your  request,  by 
a few  strokes  sufficiently  definite,  to  present  to  your 
mind  the  desired  picture.  I agree  with  you,  that 
the  externals  of  a person,  (I  mean  personal  appear- 
ance and  manners  in  society)  are  not  so  trifling  as 
to  be  disregarded  by  the  greatest  minds.  They 
lend  an  additional  charm  to  inward  excellence,  and 
palliate  somewhat  the  deficiencies  of  inferiority.  In 
approaching  a person,  they  are  the  first  that  strike 
us,  favorably  or  not,  and  our  judgment  follows 
accordingly. 

First  impressions  are  the  most  enduring,  and  it 
requires  sometimes  much  effort  to  efface  them  from 
our  memory.  If  they  be  of  an  unpleasant  kind, 
the  person  that  caused  them  may  sufier  unjustly  in 
our  opinion ; and  yet  it  may  be  difficult  for  us  to 
change  it.  Indeed,  our  eyes  perform  the  office  of 
the  feelers  of  the  snail,  which  the  animal  puts  out 
to  ascertain  if  it  can  venture  any  farther.  We  look, 
and  we  pronounce  upon  the  impression  which  the 
eyes  receive ; if  they  be  agreeable,  we  venture  on ; 
if  not,  we  withdraw  within  ourselves,  caring  not  to 
correct  our  judgment.  Thus  both  parties  may  do 
injustice  to  each  other ; the  one  by  repelling,  the 
other  by  suffering  itself  to  be  repelled. 

But  there  are  other  motives  to  induce  us  to  pay 
attention  to  these  externals.  It  is  one  of  the  social 
duties  to  study  to  administer  to  the  pleasure  of  oth- 


148 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


ers ; and  an  agreeable  exterior  never  fails  to  please. 
Again,  out  of  regard  to  our  own  dignity,  we  should  be 
careful  not  to  appear  deficient  in  them.  Besides, 
these  very  externals,  trifling  as  they  may  seem,  when 
considered  in  detail,  make  one  important  whole, 
powerful  enough  to  cause  the  surface  of  the  social 
current  to  flow  smoothly.  Indeed,  they  often  enable 
us  to  make  the  best  out  of  the  worst  of  our  life. 
What  constitutes  a pleasant  society?  Nothing  more 
nor  less  than  these  fascinating  externals.  The 
more  they  are  attended  to,  the  more  pleasant  will  be 
the  society ; its  wit  and  genius  will  be  the  dearer  to 
us,  and  even  its  dullness  the  more  sufferable. 

Would  you  not  feel  vexed  with  the  artist,  who, 
after  finishing  the  head  of  a statue  with  exquisite 
beauty,  in  a freak  of  fancy,  left  the  rest  of  the  marble- 
block  in  its  clumsy  form?  A superior  intellect, 
when  not  adorned  by  these  charming  externals,  is  in 
the  condition  of  such  a statue,  and  may  cause  in  us 
similar  sensations.  We  would  blame  the  artist,  who 
fashioned  the  intellect,  for  not  adorning  it  becom- 
ingly. The  beauty  of  the  head  cannot  compensate 
for  the  striking  incongruity.  Harmony  of  parts  is 
the  first  attribute  of  all  beauty. 

But  these  agreeable  externals  are  not  arbitrary ; 
their  absolute  ideal  lies  deep  in  the  soul  of  man. 
They,  as  every  thing  else  that  befits  man,  rest  upon 
the  soundest  reason ; and  reason  alone  can  judge  of 
their  naturalness  or  artificiality,  of  their  beauty  or 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


149 


deformity.  Society  may  establish  a false  standard 
of  their  excellence,  which  may  pass  current  with  un- 
reflecting minds ; but,  like  all  shams,  it  will  dissolve 
before  the  superior  light  of  reason. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  absolute  ideal  of  all  beauty  is  one ; but  it  ad- 
mits of  an  infinite  variety  of  expressions.  Man’s 
genius  conceives  only  its  various  expressions,  with- 
out being  able  to  grasp  its  ultimate  essence.  Hence 
the  conceptions  of  genius,  while  they  forsake  not 
variety,  yet  manifest  a tendency  to  uniformity.  The 
higher  genius  soars,  the  more  that  tendency  will  be 
apparent;  for  the  more  delicately  will  the  variety  of 
e.xpressions  be  shaded  off. 

The  same  is  true  of  all  excellence  in  man’s  con- 
duct, and  for  the  same  reason.  Man’s  genius,  with 
the  absolute  ideal,  however  dimly  conceived,  before 
it,  strives  to  preserve  a correspondence  nearest  pos- 
sible to  that  ideal,  or  uniformity ; external  circum- 
stances, however,  decide  forcibly  upon  the  peculi- 
arity of  the  expression  of  his  act.  Hence  it  arises, 
that  the  standard  of  the  beautiful,  in  man’s  conduct, 
is  one ; and  that  the  outward  graces  of  well-bred 
people  are  the  same,  although  the  peculiarities  of 


150 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


individual  minds,  together  with  external  circum- 
stances, determine  the  peculiarities  of  the  expression 
of  those  graces.  T hus  variety  issues  from  uniformity. 

You  will  perceive  now,  from  what  I have  just 
said,  the  difficulties  under  which  I must  labor,  if  I 
attempt  to  delineate  the  outward  graces  of  well-bred 
people,  in  order  that  you  may  identify  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stanley,  at  sight,  as  you  desired.  I should  have  to 
put  them  in  so  many  shades  of  light,  that  either  you 
would  be  tired  of  looking  at  them,  or  I should  ex- 
pose my  want  of  skill  in  managing  the  different  lights 
and  shades  of  social  intercourse,  in  which  man  may 
appear.  Yet  I do  not  mean  to  leave  your  request 
entirely  neglected. 

At  the  first  glance  of  Mr.  or  Mrs.  Stanley,  you 
will  perceive  something  so  pleasing  in  their  whole 
appearance,  that  you  will  admire  it,  without  know- 
ing what  to  call  it.  But  a little  reflection  will  ena- 
ble you,  as  with  a prism,  to  separate  into  distinct 
rays,  this  harmony  of  rain-bow  colors,  in  wffiich 
they  appear.  Neatness,  elegance,  order,  harmony; 
in  fine,  the  good  taste  of  an  artist,  rather  than  of  a 
modiste,  characterize  their  apparel ; and  grace,  ease, 
and  countenances  radiant  with  intellect,  throw  their 
charms  over  the  whole.  As  a king  who,  although 
aware  of  being  attired  in  his  royal  vesture,  appears 
regardless  of  it,  and  acts  as  if  he  wore  no  dignity, 
so  they,  though  not  ignorant  of  what  they  are,  yet 
betray  not  by  their  demeanor,  a consciousness  of  su- 
periority. They  will,  however,  fascinate  you  into  an 
involuntary  acknowledgment  of  it. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


151 


They  never  show  particular  anxiety  to  be  lost  in 
the  crowd,  for  they  are  not  slave-born ; they  main- 
tain their  individuality  in  every-thing,  only  taking 
care  that  it  shall  become  them  and  not  offend  others. 
Thus  they  stand  on  their  own  footing,  with  great  dig- 
nity and  grace,  as  befits  the  free-born.  If  all  would 
do  so,  society  would  rid  itself  of  the  dead  monotony 
of  routine,  and  gain  in  varied  beauty  and  harmony. 
You  will  find  them  agreeable  in  conversation,  and 
never  entertaining  you  with  common-place  talk. 
You  will  be  delighted  to  see  them  so  natural,  so 
easy,  and  so  winning,  without  any  apparent  effort  on 
their  part.  They  feel  at  ease  at  all  times,  and 
they  will  make  you  feel  so  also.  They  are  familiar, 
yet  with  so  much  genuiue  delicacy  and  warmth  of 
heart,  that  if  you  have  before  thought  that  familiarity 
must  always  border  on  vulgarity,  you  would  change 
your  opinion  at  once.  In  company  they  are  acces- 
sible to  all,  and  never  wrapped  up  in  the  solemnity  of 
their  own  individuality.  They  are  ever  ready  to 
sacrifice  their  own  ease  for  others’  sake.  They  can 
accommodate  themselves  even  to  their  inferiors,  not, 
however,  by  letting  themselves  down,  but  by  raising 
others,  without  making  them  sensible  of  it.  They 
are  particular  to  give  respect  to  whom  respect  is  due, 
and  they  show  regard  even  to  the  least.  They  have 
such  a keen  perception  of  the  delicate  in  conduct, 
that  in  their  company  one’s  feelings  are  never  hurt, 
in  the  least,  either  by  word  or  deed.  The  charm  of 
their  manners  is,  that  they  never  seem  to  think  of 


152 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


themselves  when  in  the  company  of  others.  In 
their  conversation  you  will  notice  that  they  are  free 
from  all  bombastic  and  superlative  phrases.  Indeed, 
if  they  do  speak  in  superlatives,  there  must  be  a 
very  good  reason  for  their  doing  so.  They  never 
manifest  vulgar  amazement,  even  if  they  should  see 
something  extraordinary.  They  always  appear  self- 
possessed  and  at  ease  wherever  they  go ; for  they 
carry  with  them  the  element  in  which  they  must 
move.  In  fine,  they  understand  the  rohat,  the  how, 
and  the  when,  of  polished  society. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

These  things,  and  many  others,  (which  cannot  be 
transferred  to  language,  for  their  shades  are  so  deli- 
cate that  they  vanish  the  instant  you  behold  them,) 
constitute  the  outward  graces  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stan- 
ley. These  graces  are  the  every-day  apparel  of  well- 
bred  people.  They  are  the  vesture  of  nature’s  no- 
bility, by  which  you  can  distinguish  the  low  from 
the  high.  You  perceive  that  all  those  qualities  are 
not  arbitrary,  nor  can  they  he  confined  to  the  Stan- 
leys alone ; others  may  be  adorned  by  them  also. 
Good-breeding  owes  not  its  source  to  conventional- 
ism ; it  springs  from  the  very  depth  of  man’s  heart. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


153 


and  as  he  grows  better  and  more  enlightened,  it 
widens  and  extends  till  it  covers  the  whole  circle  of 
his  action.  As  man’s  feelings  grow  more  refined, 
and  his  mental  vision  more  acute,  good-breeding 
becomes  more  indi.spensable  in  social  intercourse. 
Good-breeding,  when  considered  in  relation  to  oth- 
ers, may  be  distinguished  into  civility,  politeness, 
and  etiquette.  Those  social  ceremonies,  which  are 
comprised  in  etiquette,  may  differ  among  different 
nations,  as  they  must  depend,  to  some  extent,  upon 
the  genius  of  a society ; and  hence  they  may  be  said 
to  be  more  or  less  arbitrary.  Although  civility  and 
politeness  are  mere  degrees  of  the  same  kind  feeling 
which  is  due  from  us  to  our  fellow-beings,  yet  we 
must  discrimate  when  to  be  civil  and  when  polite. 
Civility  is  due  to  all,  at  all  times,  and  without  excep- 
tion ; politeness  to  those  only  who  do,  or  are  sup- 
posed to  understand  it ; for  the  latter  presupposes  a 
higher  degree  of  refinement  than  the  former.  To 
be  polite  to  him  who  does  not  understand  politeness, 
is  to  annoy  both  him  and  yourself ; for  the  sake  of 
both,  then,  we  may  dispense  with  it.  If  one  know 
what  politeness  is,  he  can  easily  divine  who  under- 
stands it.  However,  it  is  not  easy  to  fix  precisely 
on  the  scale  of  good-breeding,  the  point  where  civil- 
ity terminates  and  politeness  begins;  circumstances 
decide  it  best.  He,  who  has  what  we  may  call  the 
sixth  sense,  or  the  fine  sense,  that  enables  one  to  per- 
ceive the  delicate  wherever  it  is  to  be  found,  be  it  in 
thought,  feeling,  or  act,  can  know  when,  how,  and 
13 


154 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


what  he  is  to  do;  he  will  equally  know  what  he  is 
to  expect  from  others. 

This  fine  sense  is  the  only  touch-stone  of  good- 
breeding by  which  we  should  test  our  own  manners 
and  those  of  others.  He  who  is  fortunate  enough  to 
have  well-bred  parents,  and  to  keep  only  good  com- 
pany, cultivates  his  fine  sense  almost  without  any 
effort;  but  he,  who  is  deprived  of  both  these  advan- 
tages, must  make  a greater  exertion  to  bring  his  to 
its  due  temper.  Observations,  made  upon  the  well- 
bred,  and  his  own  reflections  upon  the  delicate  and 
elegant  in  social  intercourse,  joined  to  a due  regard 
for  others,  will  enable  him  to  acquire  the  outward 
graces  of  good-breeding.  Good  sense  is  the  arbiter, 
in  this,  as  it  is  in  all  else.  But  in  aiming  at  the 
attainment  of  the  polish  of  good  company,  he  must 
avoid  becoming  the  mere  automaton  of  its  practices. 
He  must  not  kill  its  soul  by  his  own  stupidity.  The 
object  of  the  manners  and  practices  of  polished  soci- 
ety, is  to  make  its  intercourse  more  agreeable,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  to  guard  it  against  the  intrusion  of 
those,  who  do  not  make  themselves  worthy  of  its 
privileges.  When  they  fail  of  this  they  become 
worthless,  for  their  soul  has  departed;  they  are  then 
the  mere  frigid  skeleton  of  what  should  be  warm  and 
full  of  life. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


155 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Rud.  I see  you  have  finished  your  picture.  That 
you  may  not  think  me  an  uninterested  listener,  I 
shall  show  you  that  I comprehend  your  views  some- 
what, though,  it  may  be,  not  to  their  full  extent. 

When  I now  bring  all  the  rays  of  the  beautiful, 
the  good,  and  the  true,  which  you  have  exhibited  to 
me,  into  one  focus,  I see,  rising  before  my  mind’s 
eye,  perfect  humanity,  like  the  image  in  the  magic 
lantern,  issuing  from  a bright  flame  into  colors  of  life 
and  beauty.  I begin  to  believe  firmly,  that  the  race 
is  capable  of  progress ; and  I think  that  I already 
see  some  indications  of  this  onward  movement ; yet 
I am  far  from  saying,  that  man  has  taken  any  con- 
siderable strides  towards  the  goal  of  perfection ; he 
has  merely  put  himself  in  the  attitude  of  walking. 
The  path  lies  open  before  him,  but  it  is  not  free  of 
obstacles ; his  resolution  may  yet  be  shaken,  or  his 
courage  may  abate ; his  head  may  grow  dizzy  with 
conceit,  and  thus  he  may  lose  the  little  ground  he 
has  gained.  Until  the  love  of  the  true,  the  good,  and 
the  beautiful,  be  well  rooted  in  his  heart,  there  will 
be  some  grounds  for  apprehension  as  to  his  fate.  I 
hold  to  a complete  harmony  between  man’s  physi- 
cal and  moral  nature,  and  the  outward  world.  As 
the  tree  does  not  disturb  the  order  of  nature,  so 
man  should  not.  External  nature  was  designed  to 


156 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


act  upon  him,  but  all  its  influences  are  to  be  recast, 
if  I may  so  speak,  by  the  peculiarities  of  his  being, 
into  homogeneous  humanity.  His  soul  must  reflect 
nature,  according  to  her  capabilities;  and  nature,  in 
her  turn,  must  be  emblazoned  by  the  spirit  of  man. 
That  is  the  goal  which  he  must  reach.  That  is  the 
completion  of  the  circle.  And  that  is  the  point  on 
which  the  first  man  stood  before  his  fall.  It  is  an 
absurdity  to  think  that  the  first  man  was  inferior  to 
us  in  anything.  He  succumbed  only  in  the  struggle 
of  the  two  opposing  principles  of  his  nature.  This 
struggle  has  continued,  and  will  continue,  through 
the  whole  career  of  the  race.  But  since  virtue  has 
received  reinforcement  of  strength  from  God,  it  shall 
conquer  its  antagonist,  and  bring  the  race  trium- 
phantly to  the  point  of  eminence  where  the  Al- 
mighty’s hand  first  placed  man.  Thus  I understand 
the  progress  of  the  race. 

When  I look  over  the  records  of  man’s  history,  I 
perceive  that  his  intellect  has  evidently  advanced ; 
but  the  physical  man  has  deteriorated  very  much. 
Here  I see  a very  serious  impediment  to  his  mental 
progress ; for  the  soul  of  man  is  destined  to  work 
out  her  salvation,  and  to  prove  her  divine  character, 
through  the  body.  The  physical  weakness  of  the 
body,  binds  down  the  soul  most  effectually ; for  it 
deprives  her  of  the  energies  necessary  to  accomplish 
her  task ; the  tool  becomes  dull  and  unfit  for  use. 
The  soul  lies  folded  up  under  the  weakness  of  the 
body,  like  the  leaf  in  the  bud  under  the  iron  grasp 
of  the  frost. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


157 


There  must  be  a harmony  of  the  bodily  energies 
with  those  of  the  soul,  to  make  the  character  of  man 
complete.  The  moral  Hercules  must  live  in  har- 
mony with  the  physical  Hercules,  to  display,  fully, 
the  genius  of  man.  The  greatest  geniuses  among 
men,  had  energies  of  body  proportionate  to  their 
intellect.  I know  there  were  such,  also,  whose  bodies 
were  infirm ; but  we  must  remember  that  the  path 
of  those  geniuses  was  narrow.  In  fact,  if  I may  be 
allowed  the  expression,  they  were  one-sided.  Uni- 
versality of  capacity  was  not  their  attribute.  Some 
circumstance  determined  the  bent  of  their  minds, 
and  the  little  energy  which  the  body  could  spare, 
was  directed  to  that  special  purpose ; and  thus  they 
showed  themselves  superior  to  others  only  in  some 
particular  attribute  of  the  human  soul.  Such  gen- 
iuses are  exceptions,  proving,  however,  the  general 
rule  to  be  correct.  The  children  of  such  men,  very 
often,  if  not  generally,  will  prove  themselves  inferior 
to  many  of  those  whose  parentage  is  not  so  high. 
This  is  another  proof  in  favor  of  my  position. 

If,  again,  it  may  be  said  that  there  are  many 
strong-bodied  men  in  whom  the  animal  predominates, 
this  proves  only  that  the  soul  has  received  no  im- 
pulse to  action  when  there  was  a time  for  it ; and  so 
the  animal  has  overgrown  the  spirit.  But  had  the 
soul  been  roused  in  due  time,  the  same  man  would 
have  been  different ; then  the  body  would  have  been 
made  an  effectual  instrument  of  the  soul.  I main- 
tain that  the  old  saying,  mens  sanain  corporesano,’’ 


158 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


a healthy  mind  in  a healthy  body,  is  literally  true. 
The  many  thousand  men  whom  we  may  daily  see, 
whose  energies  of  body  would  well  bear  mental  labor, 
would  rise  in  the  scale  of  intelligent  beings  could 
their  souls  be  roused  to  action.  They  are  such  as 
they  are  for  want  of  reflection.  That  is  the  source 
of  their  vices  and  follies.  The  senses  were  given  to 
tempt  the  soul,  and  prove  her  greatness;  for  she  can 
rise  above  them,  and  master  them,  if  she  will  only 
spread  her  wings. 

When  I shall  see,  that,  while  the  mind  progresses 
in  its  career,  diseases  vanish,  and  the  body  becomes 
robust,  and  regains,  one  by  one,  the  lost  charms  of 
its  primitive  beauty,  then  I will  believe  that  the 
race  is  hastening  to  the  goal  of  perfection.  I trust 
this  will  take  place ; but  many  ages  must  first  pass 
away.  Virtue  must  first  have  sway,  and,  in  propor- 
tion as  vice  is  driven  back  to  its  dark  abode,  the 
mind  will  expand,  and  the  body  will  be  purified  of 
its  infirmities.  I verily  believe  that  physical  evils 
were,  in  their  very  birth,  the  consequences  of  moral 
evils,  and  now  they  become  strong  enough  to  multi- 
ply of  themselves,  and  torture  the  human  frame. 
And  so  they  can  be  successfully  opposed  only  by 
moral  and  physical  good.  Virtue,  in  the  broad 
sense  in  which  Mr.  Stanley  uses  it,  is  their  only 
triumphant  antagonist. 

I foresee  that  medical  science  will  be  reformed ; 
its  lumber  of  voluminous  nonsense,  will  have  to  pass 
through  the  crucible  of  reason  and  experience. 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


159 


Thus  those  bodily  infirmities,  which  must  be  laid  at 
the  door  of  ignorant  practice,  will  be  gradually  re- 
moved. And  by  the  introduction  of  sound  notions 
of  disease,  still  other  evils  will  be  eradicated  by 
rational  practice,  while  others  may  be  prevented  by 
the  knowledge  of  preserving  good  health  when  once 
possessed.  Add  to  this  the  eftects  of  the  practice  of 
moral  virtue,  and  you  will  believe  that  the  re-estab- 
lishment of  man,  to  his  original  constitution  after  his 
fall,  is  possible  and  probable.  Thus  generation 
after  generation  may  be  gaining  in  moral  and  phys- 
ical blessings.  Yes,  the  physician  shall  understand 
the  infirmities  of  the  body,  and  the  priest  those  of 
the  soul ; and  who  knows  but  man  may  yet  be  able 
to  live  without  either  of  them,  for  he  may  himself 
understand  his  own  case  as  well  as  they.  ' Then 
man  may  live  long  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  constant 
health,  and  die  only  the  natural  death — that  of  old 
age.  He  must  die,  for  that  is  the  penalty  of  his  first 
transgression.  When  all  this  comes  to  pass,  and  it 
will  come  to  pass,  there  will  be  no  litigation  between 
man  and  man,  for  there  will  be  no  written  law. 
Each  will  carry  his  law  in  his  heart,  and  his  word 
shall  be  truth.  Thus  lawyers  will  pass  away,  and 
the  law  will  enter  into  life.  These  are  the  distant 
events  to  which  the  love  of  the  beautiful,  the  good, 
and  the  true,  will  lead  the  race.  When  I dwell 
upon  this  triple  love,  with  which  you  have  made  me 
acquainted,  humanity  rises  in  my  mind’s  eye,  in 
colossal  yet  beautiful  proportions;  it  rises  like  a 


160 


THE  IDEAL  MAN. 


giant,  whose  feet  stand  firmly  on  the  ground,  and 
whose  head  disappears  in  heaven.  Each  limb  is  in 
harmony  with  itself  and  with  the  rest  of  the  body ; 
its  individual  beauty  is  not  lost,  although  you  scarcely 
notice  it,  when  wrapped  in  the  contemplation  of  the 
whole  colossus.  So,  it  seems  to  me,  will  it  be  with 
each  of  the  human  family  ; their  individual  interests 
may  be  recognized,  and  yet  all  may  be  lost  in  the 
interests  of  humanity.  Each  of  us  might  be  in  our 
places  and  stations ; and,  according  to  our  best  abili- 
ties, we  might  aim  at  excellence.  Thus  universal 
peace,  happiness,  and  harmony,  might  be  established 
among  the  sons  of  men ; heaven  would  be  reconciled 
to  earth,  and  God  would  dwell  with  them.  Thus  I 
understand  your  views,  my  friend  Conrad;  and  as  a 
mark  of  my  friendship  for  you,  I assure  you,  that 
these  conversations  of  yours  with  me,  will  constitute 
a remarkable  era  in  my  life,  the  more  pleasant,  be- 
cause it  will  be  always  associated  with  you. 


FINIS. 


ERRATA. 

Page  19,  5th  line  from  the  top,  for,  he  has,  read  she  has. 

25,  10th  line,  for  him,  read  for  it. 

31,  5th  line,  for  present,  read  prevent. 

41,  20th  line,  for  uxuberance,  read  exuberance. 

44,  20th  line,  for  lever,  read  leaven., 

45,  23d  line,  for  where,  read  when. 

49,  4th  line,  for  untraveled,  read  untravelled. 

50,  10th  line,  for  Madona,  read  Madonna. 

51,  12th  line,  for  war-beating,  read  war-bearing. 

71,  29th  line,  for  respects,  read  suspects. 

83,  19th  line,  for  making,  read  enabling. 

88,  25th  line,  for  each,  read  such. 

90,  12th  line,  for  helper,  read  better. 

94,  6th  line,  for  as  it  lies,  read  as  lies. 

97,  9th  line,  for  these  refined  topics,  read  these  refined  topics. 

113,  14th  line,  for  fathers’s,  read  father’s. 

114,  12th  line,  for  fire  even  the  clumsy,  read  melt  even  this 
cluin.sy. 

117,  7th  line,  for  tires,  read  tries. 

119,  12th  line,  for  usual  circle,  read  visual  circle. 

126,  25th  line,  for  are  kept,  read  are  left. 

130,  29th  line,  for  unite,  then,  read  unite  them. 

133,  19th  line,  for  make  parade,  read  make  a parade. 

147,  21st  line,  for  impression,  read  impressions. 

150,  23d  line,  for  modiste  ^ read  modiste. 

158,  22d  line,  for  they  become,  read  they  are  become. 


CALL  NUMBER 


/fD  _ 


Vol. 


Date  (for  periodical) 


Copy  No. 


